A survey of dairy calf management practices in some producing regions in Brazil

Author(s)

dos Santos, Glauber ; Machado Bittar, Carla Maris

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOTECNIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE; v. 44, n. 10, p. 10-pg., 2015-10-01.

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the Brazilian dairy calves raising systems through a survey of major aspects of animal husbandry. One hundred seventy-nine producers and/or technicians were interviewed. The questionnaire addressed issues related to the management of the dry cow and the newborn, nutritional management of the liquid-feeding phase, housing, and health management. A third of newborn calves stay with their mothers for more than 24 h after delivery, and only 56% of the calves receive colostrum within the first 8 h of life. Four out of ten producers allow the calf to suckle colostrum directly from the mother. Regarding the liquid diet, 44 and 35% of the farms provide marketable milk and discard milk for the calves, respectively. It was possible to identify several areas of improvement in the raising system; for instance, greater attention could be given to dry cows and the monitoring of births and to the establishment of adequate protocols to evaluate colostrum quality and feeding management. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/17740-4 - Evaluation of management, nutritional and microbiological quality of colostrum and of the human factor in the transfer of passive immunity in calves
• Grantee: Glauber dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate