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Rearing of Calves

Care and management immediately after calving
Essential requirements in a calf house
Floor space requirement for calves
Feeding and watering space requirements for calves
Feeding schedule for calves
Vaccination particulars for your calf
Deworming of calves

Care and management immediately after calving

Cleaning the udder and hind quarters of cattle.
Mucus removal from the face and nostrils of calf and induction of respiration.
Allowing the calf to suck the colostrum.
Naval cord ligation.
Watching of cow for placenta expulsion.

Essential requirements in a calf house

Dry bedding.
Well ventilated environment.
A specific minimum cubic air capacity per calf.
A draught free environment at calf level.

Floor space requirement for calves

Age of calves (months)	Covered area( m²)	Open area(m²)	No. of calves/pen
0-3	1.0	2	24 / pen
3-6	1.5	3	16/ pen
6-12	2.0	4	12/pen

Feeding and watering space requirements for calves

Feeding space (cm)	Watering space (cm)
50 / calf	50 / calf

Feeding schedule for calves

Age of calf	Body weight (kg)	Quantity of milk(kg)	Concentrates	Green fodder
From birth to 4^h week	25	2.5	Smaller rate	Smaller rate
4 to 6^th week	30	3.0	50 to 100 grams	Smaller rate
6 to 8^th week	35	2.5	100 to 250 grams	500 grams
8 to 10^th week	40	2.0	250 to 350 grams	750 grams
10 to 12^th week	45	1.5	350 to 500 grams	1.0 kg
12 to 16^th week	50	-	500 to 750 grams	1.5 kg
16 to 20^th week	55	-	750 to 1000 grams	2 kg
20 to 24^th week	60	-	1 to 1.25 kg	3 kg
6 to 9^th month	70 to 100	-	1.25 to 1.5 kg	5 to 8 kg
9 to 15^th mont5h	100 to 150	-	1.5 to 2.0 kg	8 to 15 kg
15 to 20^th month	150 to 200	-	2.00 to 2.25 kg	15 to 20 kg
Above 20 months	200 to 300	-	2.25 to 2.50 kg	20 to 25 kg

Vaccination particulars for your calf

Age	Vaccination
8 weeks before weaning	Black quarter (1st vaccine)
2-4 months	FMD first vaccine
6-8 months	FMD booster vaccine
6 months	Anthrax Black quarter (2nd vaccine) Hemorrhagic septicemia vaccine
4-8 months	Brucella vaccine
Early once	FMD vaccine

Deworming of calves

Deworming should be started from the first week of calf.
A single oral dose of 10 g piperazine adepate is recommended for the calves preferably in the first week of life to control neonatal ascariasis especially in buffalo calves.
Deworming should be done every month for first 6 months, thereafter once in three months.
The deworming drugs and dose should be consulted with qualified veterinary doctor.
Over dose and under dose of deworming drugs should be prevented to check the side effects.

Source: Expert System for Cattle & Buffalo, Directorate of Extension Education, TANUVAS

Last Modified : 9/14/2022

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