Colostrum provision and care of calves among smallholder farmers in the Kaziranga region of Assam, India.

ABSTRACT: Smallholder cattle farming in Assamese villages is sub-optimal in terms of calf survivability, growth, age at first service, and milk yield. Proper understanding of the local situation is essential to formulate appropriate, locally driven, livestock keeper education to sustainably improve animal health, welfare and productivity. In-depth interviewing and direct observation were used to understand the farming strategies, husbandry practices and challenges to health and productivity in a cluster of typical villages in the Kaziranga region of Assam, India, where resource use is balanced between the needs of humans and livestock, with competition from wild species. Knowledge of the importance of colostrum consumption by calves is poor. Timely consumption of sufficient colostrum (locally called

SUBMITTER: Hopker A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7065800 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature