Calendar of activities for day-to-day operations in a dairy farm

Calendar of activities for day-to-day operations in a dairy farm

Birth

• Cleaning of calf
• Ligation of navel cord
• Protective measures against cold
• Hoof trimming
• Feeding of colostrum @ of 10% of calf’s body weight on day zero with about 500 ml being fed within 30 minutes of its birth without waiting for the expulsion of placenta. The remaining volume to be divided in four parts and given at an interval of six hours
• Check for the passage of meconium

Week 1-2

• Feeding of colostrum/transition milk to be continued @ 1-1½ kg per day in two-three divided doses from 2^ndday onwards for 3-4 days for protection against calf scours and pneumonia
• Deworming on day 7 with piperazine hydrate @ 3g/10kg body weight mixed in feed or water for protection against ascariasis after withdrawing feed and water for 12 hrs prior to administration
• Protection against cold or heat stress
• Dehorning as soon as horn button is visible
• Identification mark using tattooing or ear implantable RFID microchip/transponder

Week 3-4

• Feeding whole milk at 7% of body weight along with addition of clean water at 3% of body weight. The milk and water in two divided doses given in morning and evening.
• Repeat deworming with piperazine hydrate at 3 weeks of age
• Feeding of small amount of crushed grains
• Addition of 5-10 g mineral mixture to concentrate, once a week

Week 5-2 months

• Continue feeding of whole milk at 7% of body weight along with addition of clean water at 3% of body weight
• Removal of extra teats before 6 weeks of age
• Showering of water twice a day during hot days
• Provision of drinking water ad libitum

2-3 months

• Stoppage of milk feeding at 3 months of age
• Provide green fodder @ 0.1-0.4 kg per day
• Deworming with albendazole (2.5% w/v)@ 20-30 ml/100 kg at 2 and 3 months of age
• Amprolium and sulphamethazine@ 5mg kg-1 and 35 mg kg-1 in feed for 15-20 days are good coccidiostats
• Showering of water, twice daily, during summer season
• Provision of drinking water ad libitum

4^th-6^th month

• Vaccination against FMD, HS and BQ at 4 months of age
• Deworming with albendazole (2.5% w/v)@ 20-30 ml/100 kg at 5 months of age
• Examination for coccidiosis/Eimeria oocysts at 4^th, 5^thand 6^th months of age and administration of amprolium and sulphamethazine@ 10 mg kg^-1 and 140 mg kg^-1 respectively, orally daily for 3-5 days in the event of infection
• Screening for brucellosis and vaccination of serologically negative female calves at 6 months of age

7^th-12^th month

• Feed green fodder, dry fodder, concentrate and mineral mixture @ 10 kg, 0.5 kg, 1-1.5 kg and 25-30 g per day
• Deworming with ivermectin oral liquid @ 200 mg/kg body weight at 7 months of age
• Regular examination for coccidiosis  and administration of Amprolium and sulphamethazine@ 10 mg kg^-1 and 140 mg kg^-1 respectively orally daily for 3-5 days in the event of infection
• Booster of FMD, HS and BQ vaccines at 9 months of age

contributed by N. Rana and Sunesh

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