1. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF MITHUN CALVES
Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Sr.
Scientist), ICAR-NRC on
Mithun-Nagaland
2. The future of any animal husbandry depends on the successful raising of the
neonates as replacement stock
Today’s calves is tomorrow’s mithun cows & bulls
Neonatal physiology is unpredictably different from adult, they are born
immunologically naive thereby, unable to mount any sort of response to infection
livestock owner should take every possible care to provide suitable environment by
implementing scientific methods of care and management
Why?
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
3. When to start ?
1 2
3
4
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
5. Usually the source of infection is feces (diarrhea and septicemia)
Aerosol (pneumonia)
Water, feeding utensils, rodents, birds, pets, or people can be the
source of infection for calves
Problems that occur within 5 days of birth - source as the dam and
after 7 days of age - calf environment
17.10.2019: Dr. S. S. Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
6. Causative agent < 5 days 5-15 days 15-30 days > 30 days
E. coli Yes No No No
Rotavirus No Yes No No
Coronavirus No Yes No No
Cryptosporidia No Yes Yes No
C. perfringens
B,C
No Yes Yes No
Coccidia No No Yes Yes
Salmonella No No Yes Yes
BVD No No No Yes
C. perfringens D No No No yes
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
7. Reference Country Incidence (%) Age (weeks) Buffalo / Cow calves
Freese and Gravert (1982) Germany 50 Soon after
birth
Cow
Fink (1980) Germany 30.8 1 Cow
Jenny et al. (1981) USA 19.1 1 4 Cow
Gusbi and Hird (1983) Libya 12.5-26 4 Cow
Verma et al. (1988) India 12.5 4 Buffalo
Peters (1986) UK 3.96 5 Cow
Braun and Tennant (1983) USA 18.9 5 Cow
Buhullar and Tiwana (1995) India 34 12 Buffalo
Umoh (1986) Nigeria 8.7 12 Cow
Gusbi and Hird (1983) Libya 18.8 13 Cow
Afzal et al. (1983) Pakistan 39.8 Before 1 Year Buffalo
Zrelli et al. (1988) Tunisia 18.8 - Cow
McGuire et al. (1989) USA 64 - Cow
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
8. Most common cause of death in young calves and is almost entirely avoidable by
good management
The highest risk period for diarrhea is from birth until about 1 month of age and
99% of disease is infected with more than one agent
E. coli, Salmonella species, Clostridium perfringens type C, Campylobacter spp.,
Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Bovine Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), Cryptosporidium
parvum, Eimeria spp. (coccidiosis), Giardia spp.etc
DIARRHOEA
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
9. Septicemia is the most severe medical problem that a calf can develop -
blood-borne infection, disseminates and damages many different organs
Septicemia in calves is usually the result of a bacterial infection that occurs
while the calf is in the uterus or during or immediately after birth
The bacteria that cause septicemia in calves - many of which are
characterized as gram-negative bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella are
difficult and expensive to treat, and survival rate is low
Most septicemic calves have a history of inadequate colostrum intake
17.10.2019: Dr. S. S. Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
10. Calves that develop share the same risk factors –
diarrhea
Chronic pneumonia case seldom recover completely and
should be culled
The causative agents:- Pasteurella haemolytica,
Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma dispar, Mycoplasma
bovis, Hemophilus somnus, Actinomyces pyogenes,
BVDV, BRSV, IBR/PI3, Salmonella Dublin etc.
The first three agents listed are the most important in the
young dairy calf
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
12. less lactose (sugar) but 4 to 5 times more protein
10 to 15 times more vitamin-A than normal milk.
It is also rich in minerals like Cu, Fe, Mg and Mn
Contains vitamins like Riboflavin, Cholin, Thiamine,
Pantothenic acid etc.
Contains transferrin and lactoferrin which bind iron
and restrict bacterial growth
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time (hours) relative to birth
• Artificial colostrum: 600 ml whole milk, 300 ml water, ½ teaspoon of castor oil, 1 egg
and 1 tablespoon of glucose powder
Colostrum: first milk produced by the dam prior to and during the first few days after calving. It
is thick and yellowish in colour
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
14. The Environment has a substantial effect on calves morbidity and mortality.
Therefore, calf’s environment should allow for thermal comfort, physical comfort,
disease control, and behavioral satisfaction
Knowing the risks and understanding common causes of mortality in dams and calves
can help producers to implement good management practices to reduce the losses
Biosecurity measures – implemented to prevent the spread of disease agents,
17.10.2019: Dr. Sapunii S Hanah (Scientist), ICAR-NRC on Mithun
