Feeding programme for newborn buffalo calves from birth up to weaning

The present work was performed using 12 buffalocalves from birth up to 2 months of age to assess theinfluences of natural suckling and artificial rearingof calves (using limited amounts of milk for such calves),on their growth rate, total serum proteins and theirelectrophoretic patterns in their blood sera as well astheir immunological response against sheep RBCs.The calves were divided Lnt o 2 equal groups. Thefirst group of calves served as controls while the restas the experimental group. The control calves were leftto suckle colostrum and milk from their mothers naturally.The experimental calves were given their motherscolostrum and milk at the rate of 10% of their birthweight by a teat feeder.At 10 days of age the experimental calves were dividedinto J treatments according to the type of calf starter.Treatment I1 2 calves were offered a calf startercomposed of 50% milk replacer & 50% groundprocessed cake.