THE EFFECT OF SUCKLING TRAITS ON GROWTH RATE OF CALVES IN GIR CATTLE

NAWAL SINGH RAWAT¹, SANDEEP NANAVATI², KULADIP PRAKASH SHINDE³*, SHABIR AHMAD LONE^4
1Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
²Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, 453446, Madhya Pradesh, India
³Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
⁴Division of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology & Obstetrics, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
* Corresponding Author : kuls164@gmail.com

Received : 25-11-2016     Accepted : 10-12-2016     Published : 12-12-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 60       Pages : 3385 - 3387
Int J Agr Sci 8.60 (2016):3385-3387

Keywords : Suckling traits, Calves, Gowth rate, Gir, Cattle
Academic Editor : Udayakumar S, Dr Rahul Singh Arya
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

The present study was conducted to study the effect of suckling traits on growth rate of calves in Gir cattle. Growth rate due to duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by the calf, number of attempts to teat seeking, number of strokes made during suckling for letting down and let down time. A total of 13 observations of growth rate, each at 15, 30 and 45 days from four different Gir cattle farm were recorded in calves due effect of various suckling traits in Gir cattle. Average growth rate (Kg) at 15, 30 and 45 days due to effect of duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by the calf was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 45 days than at 15 and 30 days. Effect of number of attempts to teat seeking on growth rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15 days than at 30 and 45 days. The average growth rate due to number of strokes made during suckling for letting down was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15 days as compared to 30 and 45 days. The mean growth rate due to let down time was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15 days than at 30 and 45 days. Highest growth rate was due to number of strokes made during suckling for letting down and lowest growth rate was due to effect of duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by the calf, at 15, 30 and 45 days. No significant correlations were observed among duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by the calf, number of attempts to teat seeking, number of strokes made during suckling for letting down and let down time, at 15 and 30 days. However, a significant positive correlation (P<0.05; r = 0.65) was recorded between effect of duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by the calf and number of strokes made during suckling for letting down at 45 days. It is concluded that suckling traits affect the growth rate of calves in Gir cattle at various days of age. Number of strokes made during suckling for letting down lead to highest growth rate in calves.