Growth rate and behavioural patterns of buffalo calves under natural and artificial suckling conditions

ABSTRACT

Ten buffalo calves were used in this study to investigate the effect of natural and artificial suckling on growth rate behavioural patterns of buffalo calves during the first 3 months of life. The experimental calves were divided into 2 groups a] Natural suckled calves in which calves were with their dams and suckled milk in natural way. b] Artificial suckled calves in which the calves were separated from their dams after colostral period [3-5 days] and the milk of each dam was given to its calf via nipple pail. Calves were weighed individually at weekly intervals during the experimental period for determination of absolute and instantaneous relative rate of growth and also some behavioural patterns within calves were recorded. The results indicated that absolute rate of growth/day was significantly higher [0.68 +/- 0.21 kg] in suckling group than in milking one [0.53 +/- 0.3 kg]. So, the suckled calves grew more quicker than other calves. Wagging the tails, butting each other, snoring in an enjoyable manner and playing are common characters in suckled calves. However, these behavioural patterns were not observed between calves of milking group. Also natural suckling associated with butting was a common problem within artificially suckled calves