Journals › Tropical Agricultural Research
Management Practices of Calf Welfare at Dairy Cattle Farms in the Western Province of Sri Lanka
Tropical Agricultural Research 36(3): 242–251 · 2025
https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v36i3.8772
Abstract
A survey was carried out in 144 dairy cattle farms in the Western Province of Sri Lanka to identify management factors that affect welfare of dairy calves. A total of 392 calves were monitored in farms with the herd size of 5.4+2.0 with milk production of 22.9+12.5 L/day/farm. Among the calves, majority were Jersey (63.0%) and Friesian (33.0%) crosses. Risk factors were identified as, not using calving pens (100%), lack of naval disinfection (64.3 %), lack of calf pen (93.1%), dam-fed colostrum (100%), mortality (28.0% of farms), prevalence of hock wounds (39.9%) and diseases (53.4%). Concrete/cement was the prominent flooring category (93%) with considerably unfriendly footing (injurious 24.2%, slippery 51.0%, unclean 67.1%). Injurious floors significantly augmented hoof temperature (P
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