D. Suchitra Sena and Gorakh Mal
National Research Centre on Camel, Jorbeer, Bikaner 334001, Rajasthan, India
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted in 18 newly born camel calves, which were maintained under colostrum feeding for first 3-4 days and later on milk from their respective dams ad lib until 3 months of age. The calves were divided randomly into 3 groups of 6 each. The group I and III calves were fed on colostrum and milk by natural sucking method of all the 4 teats. Group II calves were maintained by natural sucking method but on only one lateral side. The Group III (treated group) received an herbal immunomodulator (trade name: RESTOBAL*) @ 20ml per os daily for 5 days at 45 days of age. The immune status was measured in the neonatal camel calves immediately after birth, at 12 hourly intervals till 3 days, at weekly intervals till 4th week and fortnightly intervals till 3 months. The body weight in the camel calves was recorded immediately after birth, 3 days and later on as per the periods mentioned above. The results indicated improvement in immune status and average growth rate (based on improvement in body weight) in treated calves from 2 to 3 months of age compared to group I and II. This suggests that apart from feeding milk alone to camel calves till 3 months of age some supplements/immunomodulators must be given for better growth rate and the camel calves should be made to suckle all the 4 teats.
Key words: Colostrum, dromedary camels, feeding pattern, growth rate, milk, passive immunity
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