The present study was conducted to assess the effect of calf management practices in buffalo to manage calf mortality. Trial was conducted on 40 buffalo calves of same breed selected from village-Sangteda, Block- Kotputli, District- Jaipur, Rajasthan. Buffalo calves were divided in two group; 20 buffalo calves were kept in each group viz. control (T1) and treatment group (T2). Two buffalo calves of each farmer were selected to maintain similarity in management practice. Treatment group (T2) calves were cut naval cord and treatment with tincture iodine, colostrums feeding with in 1 hour of calving @ 10% of calf body weight, de-worming with albendazole at 7 and 21 days after caving whereas the control group (T1) was not adopted these practices. The data were recorded by the farmers daily and by the researcher at fortnightly interval. Analysis of data revealed that adopted calf management practices decrees calf mortality 25 percent in treated group as well as average daily body weight gain of calves 22.43 percent more in treatment group. The B:C ratio of adopted calf management practices observed 1: 34.24 under farmer management practices. These findings may suggest that adoption of cut naval cord and treatment with tincture iodine, colostrums feeding with in 1 hour of calving @ 10% of calf body weight, deworming with albendazole at 7 and 21 days after caving enhanced daily body weight gain and reduces calf mortality for getting higher return and sustainable profit from buffalo farming.

Highlights

• Calf management practices immediate after caving are crucial for their life and productivity.
• These practices decreased calf mortality by 25 percent, increased average daily body weight by 22.43% with B:C ratio of 1: 34.24.