Effect of different flooring condition on growth performance and disease incidence of preweaned Frieswal calves

Abstract

The present study was carried in the herd of Frieswal crossbred calves. Thirty Frieswal calves (15 male
and 15 female) were included in the experiment at 3 days of their birth (after colostrum feeding). They
were distributed into 3 groups (3 floor types with 10 calves (5 male + 5 female) in each group): Concrete
floor, Concrete floor with straw beddings and Earthen (Kachha) floor. In general, Average daily gain (ADG)
showed an increasing trend with the advancement of age. At 9th and 10th week of age i.e., just after stopping
of milk feeding ADG decreased however, in subsequent weeks, calves regained their weight gain. From
fourth fortnight onward the gains in heart girth were significantly higher (P<0.05) for calves on straw bed and
earthen floor than the calves on concrete floor. With advancement of age as expected there was gradual
increase in height at withers in all the three groups as the animals were in growing phase. However, the
increase in height was comparatively higher for calves on straw bed than the calves on other two floor
types. The most striking results of disease incidence were that number of calves under concrete floor
which suffered more than once, were 40% whereas calves under earthen floor and straw bed suffering
more than once were 20 and 10%, respectively. Occurrence of more than one disease per animal was
also more under concrete floor (30%) than under earthen (20%) or straw bed (10%). Thus, calves under
concrete floor suffered maximum among the three floor types