Management Practices of Calf Welfare at Dairy Cattle Farms in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

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<0.001). Slipperiness and dirty floors positively (P<0.05) affected on prevalence and severity of hock wounds by 14.5% (P<0.001) and 59.6% (P<0.001) respectively. Stockperson attitude varied with the age where and youths (19-30 years) concerned more about proper flooring (85.7%), calf-pen (6.9%), concentrate/roughage access (10-14 days after birth) (14.2%), welfare/nutrition (78.6%) and calf mortality than the adults and seniors. Welfare and ethical considerations towards male calves were satisfying with better weaning age (3.8±0.9 months), concentrate supplement (0.58+0.28 kg/day) and selling after six months of age (93.0%). However, both female and male calves were underweight for their corresponding ages. In conclusion, this study will assist in developing intervention strategies to improve calf welfare for the better raising of calves into a well grown cow.