Evaluation of Calf Management and Livability in Dairy Farms in Afyonkarahisar

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to examine the factors affecting the survival of calves with rearing, feeding and management of calves in dairy cattle farms in Afyonkarahisar province. The research was conducted in 25 dairy farms in center Afyonkarahisar and districts, and used 400 head Simmental calves and 117 head Holstein calves which are birth in 7 farms which have regular records for their livability of calves in 2016 and 2017. The survival rates were 0,920±0,021, 0,896±0,023, 0,874±0,025 and 0,857±0,025 at 30, 60, 75 and 90 days of life in the Simmental calves, respectively. The effects of dairy farm and birth season at 30, 60, 75 and 90 days of survival rates, effect of age of dam at 60, 75 and 90 days of survival rates and effect of gender at 75 days of survival rates in the Simmental calves were significant ( p<0,05; p<0,01) . The survival rates were 0,918±0,027, 0,918±0,027, 0,918±0,027 and 0,893±0,029 at 30, 60, 75 and 90 days of life in the Holstein calves, respectively. The effects of gender at 30, 60, 75 and 90 days for survival rates, effect of birth season at 30, 60 and 75 days of survival rates in Holstein calves were significant ( p<0,05; p<0,01). As a result, it was concluded that the survival rates in the Simental and Holstein calves is low in terms of optimal productivity and ideal values, and the quality and management of colostrum should be taken into consideration.