Factors Affecting Mortality in Buffaloes and Calves

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dams on calf mortality, the number of stillbirths and abortions, the effect of environment difference on the calf mortality, the relation of age and parity number to calf mortality. Certain managemental and aetio-pathological factors contributing mortality were also studied from data of two dairy farms one located in Okara (Punjab Province, Pakistan) and other in Malir Karachi (Sind Province Pakistan) from March 2003 to February 2010. The unadjusted means and Standard Deviation (SD) of stillbirth was 7.59 ± 13.49% and calf abortion was 2.64 ± 3.59%. Mean value of abortion reveals that herd (farm) and sex were the most significant (P < 0.01) sources of variation in still birth in buffalo calves. However, herd (farms) year of birth did not affect abortion rate. The variation noted was attributed to the management practices. The feeding regime and the age of the dam seem to have contribution in this regard.