Frequently Asked Questions

4-5%

5-6%

Tharparkar, Kankrej, Ongole and Krishna valley

12-16 animals

Up to 50 animals

3.5 m2 per animal

7.0 m2 per animal

4.0 m2 per animal

8.0 m2 per animal

Thatches

1/40 to 1/60

Cement Concrete

Tail- to –Tail system

Length- 1.5m – 1.7m & Width- 1.05m- 1.2m

Only one

Cereal fodder: Fodder –Co-27, C0-10, Fodder maize, Fodder Bajra (Co-8), Napier+Bajra-C01,Co2,Co3,Co4 Guinea, Hamil, Cenchrus species, Setaria, Sudan grass, Green Panic, para grass, Karnal grass etc., Legume fodder: Cow pea (Co5), Desmanthus, Stylo species, Ceratro, Lucerne, sunhemp, Clitoria, Calapogonium etc.

Common   fodder trees
	Common name	Tamil name	Botanical name
1.	Soobabul	Soundal	Leucaena  leucocephala
2.	Umbrella tree	Kudaivel	Acacia  planifrons
3.	Siris	Vagai	Albizia lebbek
4.	Sesbania	Agathi	Sesbania grandiflora
5.	Banyan tree	Alamram	Ficus bengalensis
6.	Peepal tree	Arasa	Ficus  religiosa
7.	Neem	Vembu	Azadirachta  indica

 

1. Livestock Research Station, Kattupakkam – 603 203.

2. State Seed Farm, Padappai.

3. Regional Fodder Research and Demonstration Centre

4. Alamadhi, Thiruvallur Dist.,

5. Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Tamil

6. Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641 003.

7. Agricultural Technology Information Centre, Kattupakkam

Co1, Co2 and Co3 are Cumbu - Napier Hybrids superior varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

The forage seeds can be purchased from the following places in Tamil Nadu.

The Professor And Head Department Of Forages Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore - 641 003.

The Director The Regional Station for Forage  Production and Demonstration Alamadhi, Red Hills (Via) Avadi, Chennai.

Cultivable wasteland 

Soundal/Soobabul (Leucaena leucocephala)
Agathi  (Sesbania grandiflora)
Sithagathi  (Sesbania aegyptica)

Wasteland with semi-rocky substratum                                   

Vagai   (Albizia lebbek)
Israeli babool   (Acacia tortilis)
Achamaram   (Hardwickia binata)

Alkaline waste land                    

Karuvelam   ( Acacia nilotica)
Sithagathi    (Sesbania aegyptica)

 

Yes. Sugarcane tops are palatable to animals. It has fair amount of minerals. Sugarcane tops consist of green leaves, bundle of leaf sheath and a variable amount of immature cane. Sugarcane being deficient in protein, needs to be supplemented with protein rich feeds (Legume fodders such as cowpea and Lucerne). About 21 tonnes of sugarcane tops is available from 1 hectare of sugarcane crop. This quantity is sufficient to provide forage for one cow unit over a year.

Yes. Banana leaves are also considered as a green fodder for the animals. The leaves stem and flowers are available for feeding to the animals. Leaves and flowers have adequate crude protein content and are high in calcium. They also supply carotene. The stem though low in protein content, can provide bulk to the animals. The stem and bulbs are fed after chopping with sharp blades.

Feeding of Gingelly oil cake will not cause abortion.

Urea treated paddy straw can be fed to pregnant animals.

When the sugarcane tops are fed along with other roughages and not as sole ration for longer periods, practically infertility problem is not encountered in cattle.

A possible way of reducing the feed wastage is by providing the feed in the form of pellets or crumbles. In case of mash feeding, sprinkle little bit of water before feeding to reduce the wastage. The wastage of fodder could be reduced by judicial provision of fodder by providing it at a height (particularly for goats) so that the animal could grab it. Chaffing the fodder will also reduce the fodder wastage.

Some of model balanced rations

Ration 1	Ration 2	Ration 3
Wheat  - 27% GNC – 30% Gram chuni – 20% Gram husk – 20% Mineral Mixture – 2% Salt – 1%	Maize – 30% Gram – 20% GNC – 30% Rice bran – 17% Mineral mixture – 2% salt – 1	barley – 47% GNC – 40% Rice bran – 10% Mineral Mixture – 2% Salt – 1%

 

Yes. A Cow yielding 6-8 liters of milk per day could be sustained by providing 25-30 kg of green fodder containing cereals and leguminous fodder (Hedge lucerne, stylo, cow pea, desmodium etc.,) depending upon the body weight.

Cereal fodder – 10-15 kg per day

Legume fodder – 8-10 kg per day

Dry fodder - 3-4 kg per day

A week or two before mating / insemination the animal should be given in addition about 1.5 – 2 kg concentrate mixture as flushing ration and 60-90 days before calving, the pregnant cow should be given 1.5 – 2 kg of concentrate feed to take care of growing foetus requirement

Gingely oil cake does not reduce the fat percentage in milk

A judicial incorporation of mineral mixture (neither excess nor deficient) in a dairy cow ration is as important as energy and protein. Otherwise an imbalanced feed with regard to its minerals particularly of calcium and phosphorus could reduce the milk yield. Normally 2% mineral mixture is added in the dairy cattle ration to avert any possible mineral deficiency. Addition of salt (1% level) improves the palatability and voluntary intake of feed, in addition, to providing much needed sodium and chloride ions to maintain some concentration of both intra cellular and extra cellular fluids.

When the sugarcane tops are fed along with other roughages and not as sole ration for longer periods, practically infertility problem is not encountered in cattle.

• No, it is not a good practice
• Whether the cow has shed the placenta or not, it should be milked or the new born calf should be allowed to suckle the cow. This will help the calf to get antibodies via colostrum
• Suckling and milking initiate the release of oxytocin which in turn favours shedding of placenta

• First, the animal should be inseminated at the right time ie. 12 hours after the onset of oestrus
• Secondly, the animal should be on a positive energy balance and free from parasites
• Thirdly, there could be problems such as ovulatory defects, uterine infections, deficiency of hormones etc. that could lead to failure of conception. Cows should be subjected to thorough clinical examination by a veterinarian to identify such problems, if any and are to be treated accordingly

• Holstein Friesian cows are large sized animals with a faster growth rate and hence the nutrient requirements of these animals are higher when compared to Jersey crossbred and indigenous cows. Under Indian conditions the nutrient requirements of such animals are not often met with and this leads to more of infertility problems.
• Putting these animals on a positive energy balance will help to resolve most of these infertility problems.

• This is called as gestational heat
• During early stages of pregnancy there is considerable follicle development in the ovary resulting in increased production of oestrogens which might be the cause for the gestational heat.
• This does not affect pregnancy and does not require any treatment.

Silent oestrus, sub oestrus and weak oestrus are the main causes for infertility in buffaloes. Hence oestrus detection in them remains a difficult task. This can be overcome by frequent observation, proper record maintenance and good management.

• Bringing the animal into a positive nutritive balance
• Careful observation of heat symptoms followed by timely and proper insemination using good quality semen
• Two inseminations can be done at intervals of 12 hrs.
• Administration of 500 mg depot progesterone on the 5th day after AI
• Administration of hormones such as GNRH or LH at the time of AI
• Uterine infections due to endometritis can be treated with intra uterine administration of antibiotics
• Skipping the AI and administration of PGF2 alpha to induce oestrus followed by fixed time insemination

• Massaging of the clitoris for 3 seconds after AI has been reported to increase the conception rate.
• After AI, stress has to be avoided. soon after AI, animals may be rested for sometime before driving them home.
• Spraying of cold water on the animal may help to reduce heat stress.

• Anti partum prolapse can be prevented by making the animal stand with its hind quarters in an elevated position than that of its fore quarters.
• Estrogen containing feeds have to be avoided.
• Pregnant animals should be given mild exercise.
• Animal has to be fed in small quantities.

First of all, one should ascertain that the calf is breathing. Resuscitation can be done by massaging the thoracic cavity. Mucus covering the calf has to be removed. Naval cord has to be severed and tincture iodine has to be applied to avoid infection. Colostrum has to be fed to the calf within a few hours after its birth.

Buffalo cows and heifers often do not exhibit oestrus signs. This is an important cause apart from nutritional, hormonal causes. The silent estrus condition could be treated using recently available estrus synchronization agents.

If oestrus signs observed in morning, breed the animal at evening. If oestrus signs observed in evening, breed the animal at next day morning.

After 18 months or above 250 kg body weight

Pregnancy diagnosis should be done after 45-60 days of breeding by qualified veterinary doctor.

Jersey young bull calves can be purchased from Animal Husbandry Dairy farm such as Exotic Cattle Breeding Farm, Eachankottai, Thanjavur and Nucleus Jersey and Stud Farm, Udhagamandalam.

Abnormalities of the milk (presence of blood, flakes & pus) & abnormalities in the udder (hot painful swelling with inflammation). Some of the companies marketing mastitis detecting strips, this strip can be used to detect the mastitis. When the strip is introduced into the milk the colour of the strip changes.

Yes – Periodic and vaccination conferment such problematic situations.

Allow the calf to suckle adequate amount of colostrums, not to allow the calf to eat mud & soil and maintenance of clean environment & healthy condition.

Sunburn, chemical irritation, contaminated bedding, photosensitive dermatitis, Cowpox, pseudopox, pamillomatosis. Treatment: vigorous treatment with a suitable antiseptic cream after each milking is recommended. The preferred antiseptics are cholorhexidine & iodophore compounds.

Wash the area with soap solution. In small ruminants tetanus toxoid should be administered as soon as they are bitten by a dog. Affected animals should be protected with post bite ARV in the following schedule 0 day, 3rd day, 7th day, 14th day & 21st day.

Teat obstruction, teat cancer may be mastitis is the reasons for this condition.

High yielding dairy animals are in a negative energy balance which affects the defense mechanism. Hence are often affected by mastitis.

Teat sphincters are open for approximately 30 minutes after milking; hence animal should not be allowed to lie down to avoid contamination. They could be given feed after milking so that they would stand during this period.

Feed, organ dysfunction.

Jhone’s disease.

Myocarditis infection develops

Adequate colostrum feeding.

Primary vaccination: calves above 4 months of age. Booster vaccination at 2 – 4 weeks later. There after Vaccinate at every 4 – 6 months intervals.

It is used as fly repellent in wounds of animals.

No possibility.

Good quality fibre / avoiding broken carbohydrate.

Following abortion due to brucellosis, a sexual rest of 90 days or more followed by several intrauterine and parentral antibiotic treatments is a must to aid involution and recovery of the endometrium necessary for conception. However it is possible that these animals could abort during subsequent gestations or could carry the fetuses to term. These animals could act as carriers and could be a source of danger to other animals.

• When the animal uterus is prolapsed, the prolapsed mass should be covered with a wet towel.
• The animal should not be allowed to lie down. if it is unable to stand, proper bedding should be provided to the animal.
• The prolapsed mass should be lifted to the level of the anus to prevent oedema formation.
• The prolapsed mass should be reduced with the help of a veterinarian

It is advisable to wait for 12 hours for the expulsion of after birth. Many ecbolics are available. They can be given under the supervision of veterinary doctor.

Full hand milking

Knuckling

6-8 hours soon after milking

Milking machines are available to suit all types of animals.

Storage of milk can be done by using bulk cooler or surface cooler at 40C.

If sufficient water and manpower is available daily washing is better to the health of the cow and also for clean milk production.

If the calf dies on the day of calving, may be due to prenatal infection of foetus by infectious agent or postnatal improper management practices. First we have to rule out the causes for death by various serological and biochemical tests. If the cause of death is due to any zoonotic disease, the milk is not advisable for human consumption. Best to have consultation with nearby local veterinarian.

Anthrax, Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

Cotton seed cake is the best source to improve fat percentage in milk

Dry matter intake of feed in the form of concentrates and dry fodder may be increased

Colostrum is the first milk secreted by the cow after calving. Colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins which gives protection to the new born calf from diseases. Moreover, Colostrum also has a laxative effect and hence helps in easy digestion. However Colostrum should be given to the calves within 1 – 1½ hours after delivery since as the time advances the absorption of immunoglobulin from the gut of the calves gets reduced.

First ½ hour to 12 hours of life, calf should be given with colostrum of its 5-8 % of body weight. Then 2nd and 3rd day, it should be of 10% of its body weight.

A new born calf should be fed with 1/10th of its body weight of milk. For example a cross bred calf will weigh approximately 20-25 kg at birth. It can be fed with 2-2.5 kg of milk per day.

Buffalo calves can be dewormed on the first day itself. Other calves can be dewormed by 1 week of age. Piperazine is the drug of choice during first 6 month of age. After that once in 3 month deworming is sufficient with regular rotation of broad-spectrum anthelminthtics like albendazole, fenbendazole, livamizole etc.,

Disbudding should be done for calf at the age of 15-20 days itself.

A possible way of reducing the feed wastage is by providing the feed in the form of pellets or crumbles. In case of mash feeding, sprinkle little bit of water before feeding to reduce the wastage. The wastage of fodder could be reduced by judicial provision of fodder by providing it at a height (particularly for goats) so that the animal could grab it. Chaffing the fodder will also reduce the fodder wastage.

Micronutrients play major role in various physiological and biochemical functions taking place in the body such as metabolism of nutrients, synthesis of enzymes and hormones, tissue growth, formation of Hemoglobin, development of immunity etc. They are also essential for normal reproduction both in males as well as in females.

Based on fat, SNF and lactometer reading.

After 10 years of age, the cow may be culled since the milk yield will not be economical.

Ear tagging is the most popular method of identification of farm animals.

2-3 months

5% of animal value

Daily stock register, Birth/calving register, Calf / young stock register, Adult stock register, Breeding register/ AI register, Weighment / growth register, Milk yield and distribution register, Sales/ disposal register, Fodder/ feed stock register, Receipt/ Income register, Herd health register and Mortality register.