Health scores
Results for frequency of health score with respect to various treatments are presented in Table 2 and mean health scores affected by treatments are presented in Table 3. Table 2 reveals that naval, nasal, eye and fecal scores of 1 found in 83, 74, 74 and 74% calves, respectively, indicated overall good health status in all the calves. Further, score 4 was not observed in any irrespective of health score. Naval health is very important for survival of calves. High frequency of naval score 1 was observed in calves of T
3 (95%) followed by T
1 (86%). Score of 2 and 3 were more in group T
2 and T
4 indicating that calves receiving colostrum late had higher naval score.
Nasal score is an indicator for respiratory health as pneumonia is a major cause of calf mortality
(Patel et al., 2017). High frequency of nasal score 1 was found in calves of T
3 (86%) followed by T
1 (83%) whereas, score 2 and 3 were found to be higher in T
2 and T
4 demonstrating that calves receiving colostrum late had higher nasal discharge and thus they are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections. Likewise eye and faecal scores also showed similar trend of lower frequency for score 2 and 3 in group T
1 and T
3. Perusal of frequency of various health score studied showed that time of colostrum feeding is more important for good health of calf for first 45 days.
Bahri et al., (2016) reported positive and significant correlation between serum IgG levels of calf and dam after colostrum was fed to calves adequately and timely. Similarly
Furman-fratczak et al., (2011) found more clinical cases of diarrhoea and respiratory infections in calves with less IgG at birth (<5 g/L). They also observed that the ability of calves to ingest colostrum early was associated with desired health score in more calves.
Means of health scores affected by colostrum feeding treatments is shown in Table 3. Grand means of naval score, nasal score, eye score and faecal score ranged from 1.20-1.39. Amongst scores faecal score was highest whereas naval score was lowest. Higher naval score was observed in T
4 but it was nonsignificant. Naval score within treatment between all 7 observations and their interaction was nonsignificant. The reason for this could be that naval health protocol in all calves at studied farm is being followed. Nasal score was highest in T
4. Treatment and week effect on nasal score was nonsignificant. However interaction between treatment and week was significant showing that treatment means were significant for some seven weekly observations. Results reveal higher means between third and fourth weeks. Eye score was also nonsignificant between treatments and weeks.
Interaction between treatment and week was significant. Eye secretion and nasal discharge are indicative of respiratory diseases. However results showed that respiratory health score was almost normal across all treatments without any effect of treatment.
Dunn et al., (2017) also found similar respiratory health in calves either fed with 5 or 10% colostrum. In agreement to present findings
Conneely et al., (2014) didn’t found any difference in health scores in calves fed with either 7% or 10% colostrum that might be associated with enough IgG concentration in calves that received 7% colostrum. Hence due to good PIT the health of calves remained good and there was nonsignificant difference between treatments.
Faecal score was significantly higher in calves of groups T
2 and T
4 in which colostrum was fed late. Means between studied weeks along with interaction with treatment were significant. It shows that calves having FTP have more prone to suffer from diarrhoea. Data revealed more faecal score for 3-4 weeks after birth. Observed pooled faecal score and nasal score irrespective of treatment is in accordance with
Scoley et al., (2019). Similar to present findings
Priestley et al., (2013) also used health scoring system for studying failure of passive transfer in calves and they reported increased (P<0.03) morbidity and mortality in groups of calves with FTP as compared to calves without failure of passive transfer.
Weiller et al., (2020) showed that diarrhoea and respiratory diseases were 77.9% and 49.6%, respectively in calves with FTP.
Dunn et al., (2017) revealed higher incidences of enteritis in calves fed less colostrum
i.
e. @ 5% of BW compared to 10% BW. Their reports of respiratory and diarrhoea scores as well as clinical cases being higher than present finding might be due to species difference as the present study was hardy indigenous buffalo species. Significant higher faecal score in calves fed with 7% colostrum after 4 hours of birth might be associated with enteric
E.
coli infection that is most commonly prevalent. To combat enterotoxigenic
E.
coli infection in neonatal calves, they need anti-K99 antibodies which are available when calves receive sufficient IgG level
(Alo et al., 2018).
Physiological parameters
Results for rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rates of calves are presented in Table 4. The perusal of the data showed that rectal temperature of calves in morning and evening was nonsignificant across all groups. Grand means of morning and evening temperature (°F) were 100.7±0.09 and 100.9±0.08, respectively showing higher but nonsignificant evening temperature. Observed temperatures were in normal range. Neither there was effect of days or nor interaction was observed. Effect of amount and timing of feeding colostrum was nonsignificant on morning respiratory rates. However morning respiratory rates between days were significant. Evening respiratory rate was significantly lower in calves fed with colostrum within 4 hours after birth which is indicative of lower stress in calves of those groups. Overall morning and evening respiratory rates were 56.9±0.42 and 59.5±0.34 respectively. Heart rates in morning were observed in range of 116.7-120.5, that were statistically nonsignificant between treatment, day and interaction. Evening heart rate was significantly higher in calves with FTP groups (T2 and T4) that received colostrum late thus hinting stress in calves of FTP group.
Hadorn et al., (1997) reported that the calves receiving good PIT had significantly higher rectal temperature, heart rate and respiration rate as compared to calves of FTP group. Grand means of heart rate in morning and evening were 118.2±0.60 and 122.5±0.50 respectively.
Scoley et al., (2019) revealed similar physiological results in calves.
Lying behavior
Lying behaviour judged by observing lying time affected by colostrum feeding treatments during 24 hours period is presented in Table 5. It shows that lying time was significantly (p<0.05) higher in calves of T
2 and T
4 as compared to calves of T
1 and T
3. More activity implies lesser sitting time and thus is indicative of good vigour and better activity which was seen in calves fed early with colostrum. Calves in which colostrum was fed after 4 hours of birth remain active for only around 3 hours as compared to 6 hour activity in groups fed early with colostrum. Observed activity of lying in calves in the present study was similar to the findings of
Sorathiya et al., (2019). Lying behavior affected by feeding regime reported in present study is in accordance with
Scoley et al., (2019).
