Frequently Asked Questions– Animal Health

1. Question: Should We Allow Animals To Be Vaccinated If The Vaccinator Does Not Bring Vaccine In Ice Box?

Ø Answer: Never, Vaccines Get Spoiled In Ambient Temperature And Is Unable To Provide Protection To Animals.

2. Question: Which Animals Cannot Be Vaccinated?

Ø Answer: Sick Animals, Just Calved Animals (Up To 3-4 Weeks After Calving) & Calves Till They Attain 3-4 Months Of Age Should Not Be Vaccinated.

3. Question: Can A Pregnant Animal Be Vaccinated?

Ø Answer: Yes, There Is No Harm In Vaccinating A Pregnant Animal. However, One Should Avoid Vaccinating Animals In The Last Month Of Pregnancy, As The Animal As Well As The Fetus Could Be Injured During Restraining.

4. Question: Should We Vaccinate Unaffected Animals During Fmd Outbreak In A Village?

Ø Answer: In An Fmd Affected Village, It Is Not Advisable To Vaccinate Animals Not Showing Symptoms Of Fmd Since It May Already Be In Various Stages Of Incubation Even Before Any Symptoms Are Seen. However, Ring Vaccination Starting From 2-3 Km Away From The Infected Village And Moving Inward From Periphery To The Point Of Infection Is Very Important Is Limiting The Spread Of The Disease. Strict Control On Movement Of Animals, Feed, Fodder And People From Infected Areas Are Also Equally Important In Controlling The Outbreak.

5. Question: Can An Animal Be Vaccinated Against Several Diseases At A Time?

Ø Answer: Yes, In Human Beings And Dogs, Combined Vaccines For Multiple Diseases Are Already In Use For A Long Time. Now Combined Vaccines Against Fmd, Hs And Bq Are Available For Cattle And Buffaloes Also.

6. Question: What Should We Do If A Rabid Dog Bites An Animal?

Ø Answer: Wash The Wound Immediately Under Running Tap Water For 5-10 Minutes. In Absence Of A Tap, Pour Clean Water From A Vessel. Clean The Wound With Ordinary Bath Soap Gently. Apply Tincture Iodine And Take The Animal To The Nearest Veterinary Officer.

7. Question: What Should We Do If A Snake Bites An Animal?

Ø Answer: Tie A Tourniquet 3-4 Inches Above The Site Of The Bite. Give A Small Incision At The Site With Clean Blade And Allow The Wound To Bleed. Wash The Wound With Detergent. Call The Veterinarian Immediately.

8. Question: What Should We Do To Treat Tympany/Bloat?

Ø Answer: Feeding Of Lush Green Leafy Fodder Like Berseem, Lucerne May Result In Formation And Accumulation Of Gases In The Rumen Causing Distension Of Rumen. In Such Cases, Don’t Allow The Animal To Sit And Do Not Provide Water To Drink. Give The Animal A Mixture Containing 100 Gm Of Rock Salt, 30 Gms Of Asafetida, 100 Ml Turpentine Oil And 500 Ml Linseed / Vegetable Oil And Then Consult A Veterinary Officer Immediately.

9. Question: Is There Any Harm If We Consume Milk From A Cow Suffering From Subclinical Mastitis?

Ø Answer: Milk From Cows Having Subclinical Mastitis May Contain Toxins Of Certain Bacteria That Are Not Destroyed Even By Boiling. The Toxins May Produce Diarrhoea Or Throat Infection In Humans.

10. Question: Is Oxytocin Injection Given For Letdown Of Milk Harmful To Animal Or Milk Consumers?

Ø Answer: Use Of Oxytocin Injection Is Not Recommended For Milk Let Down Except When Used By A Veterinarian For Treating Animals For Some Diseases.

11. Question: Should Colostrum Need To Be Fed To A New Born Calf?

Ø Answer: Colostrum Should Be Fed As Early As Possible To A New Born Calf In Adequate Quantities (Minimum 1/10th Of The Body Weight).

12. Question: Can We Deworm Pregnant Animals?

Ø Answer: Pregnant Animals Should Be Dewormed Near The Time Of Calving And Again 6-7 Weeks After Calving After Consultation With A Veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions– Animal Nutrition

1. Question: What Is Ration Balancing?

Ø Answer: All Species Require Balanced Ration For Optimal Growth, Ration Balancing Is A Process To Balance The Level Of Various Nutrients Of An Animal, From The Available Resources, To Meet Its Nutrient Requirements For Maintenance And Production.

2. Question: Can We Incorporate Gram Chunni, Wheat Bran, Banana Stem, Bamboo Leaf Etc. And Other Home Grown Produce While Balancing Ration?

Ø Answer: Yes, Home Grown Produce, Tree Leaves Etc. Which Are Normally Fed To Animals Can Be Incorporated While Balancing Ration. In Fact The Objective Of Ration Balancing Is To Produce An Optimum Quantity Of Milk At The Least Cost From Milch Animals By Readjusting, Wherever Required, The Proportion Of Locally Available Dietary Feed Ingredients, So As To Provide Adequate Amount Of Proteins, Minerals, Vitamins As Well As Energy.

3. Question: In Case Umb Is Being Offered To The Animal For Licking, How Much Quantity Of Urea Treated Straw Should Be Fed To Animal?

Ø Answer: Umb And Urea Treated Straw Both Should Not Be Fed To Animal At A Time. If Umb Is Not Given, We Can Offer Urea Treated Straw To Animal To The Extent It Eats.

4. Question: Is Cattle Feed Requited If We Feed Urea Treated Straw To The Animal?

Ø Answer: In Case Animal Is Neither Pregnant Nor Lactating And Is Getting Sufficient Urea Treated Straw Or Ordinary Straw Along With Umb Lick, Cattle Feed Is Not Required. But For Lactating And Pregnant Animals, Cattle Feed/Bypass Protein Feed Should Also Be Fed Along With Urea Treated Straw As Per Recommendation Made Earlier In This Booklet.

5. Question: Do We Need To Provide Extra Mineral Mixture When We Are Feeding Balanced Cattle Feed To Animals?

Ø Answer: As Balanced Cattle Feed Contains Mineral Mixture, We Can Reduce The Recommended Quantity Of Mineral Mixture To 50%.

6. Question: What Should We Do If The Animal Does Not Lick Urea Molasses Block?

Ø Answer: To Make The Animal Habituated To Licking Umb, Sprinkle Flour, Bran Or Cattle Feed On The Block For Few Days. Animal Will Start Relishing It Gradually.

7. Question: For How Many Days Does One Urea Molasses Block Last?

Ø Answer: One Urea Molasses Block Weighing 3 Kg Lasts For 5-7 Days For One Animal

Frequently Asked Questions– Animal Breeding

1. Question: Why Is Improvement Of Indigenous Breeds Important? What Are Important Indigenous Breeds And Where Are They Available?

Ø Answer: Indigenous Breeds Are Well Adapted To Our Agro-Climatic Conditions And Are Resistant To Many Tropical Diseases And Can Survive And Produce Milk On Poor Feed And Fodder Resources. Some Of These Breeds Are Well Known For Their High Milk And Fat Production. However, The Production Potential Of These Animals Has Deteriorated Over A Period Of Time Due To Lack Of Selection. The High Producing Exotic Breeds Do Not Have The Above Characteristics And Are Very Difficult To Manage In Tropical Indian Scenario. Hence, Indigenous Breeds Should Be Improved. Please See The Inside Covers For The Various Indigenous Milch Breeds Of Cattle & Buffalo And Their Native Breeding Tracts.

2. Question: Which Is Most Suitable Animal For Dairying – Indigenous Cattle, Crossbred Cattle Or Buffalo?

Ø Answer: Choice Of Breed Or Breed Combination Primarily Depends On Resource Availability, Climatic Conditions, Availability Of Required Inputs (Feed And Healthcare Facilities), Availability Of Market For Milk, Criteria For Milk Pricing Etc. In Resource Poor Situations, Indigenous Cattle And/Or Buffaloes Could Be Preferred While With Moderate To Good Resources Crossbred Cow Could Be Preferred. Places Where Fat % Is The Price Criteria, Buffaloes May Be Preferred.

3. Question: What Is An Economic Animal?

Ø Answer: Economic Animal Is One Which Produces One Calf In A Year, Resistant To Diseases; Produce Maximum Milk With Minimum Input Cost I.E. Minimal Per Liter Milk Production Cost.

4. Question: What Is A State Breeding Policy? Why Should It Be Followed?

Ø Answer: Every State Has Defined Its Own Breeding Policy Based On Geographical And Climatic Conditions Of The State And Distribution Of Different Breeds In The State. Breeding Policy Is A Guideline To Indicate What Breed And Breed Combination Or Exotic Blood Level Is Most Suitable In The Given Agro Climatic Condition Of The State. It Should Be Followed To Get The Optimum Output From Your Animals And To Conserve The Native Breed Available In The State.

5. Question: What Type Of Semen Should Be Used To Breed Different Type Of Animals? Whether Ai Technician (Ait) Carries Semen Doses Of All Breeds Of Semen So That I Can Choose The Best Option For My Animal? What Is Sire Directory? Is It Available With Every Ait?

Ø Answer: Semen Procured Only From A And B Graded Semen Stations Should Be Used. The Semen Used Should Be In Accordance With The Breeding Policy Of The State. The Semen Doses Must Be Carried In Crocin (Not In Any Other Container). All Aits May Not Always Carry The Semen As Per The Breeding Policy Of The State So Being An Aware And Progressive Farmer One Should Be Vigilant And Should Insist To Know The Breed, Exotic Blood Level And Pedigree Details Of The Bull, The Semen Of Which Is Being Used To Breed Your Animal. Sire Directory Contains Pedigree Details Of All Bulls In The Semen Station. Ideally It Should Be Available With Ai Technician If Not, Then The Farmer May Ask The Ai

6. Question: Is Artificial Insemination (Ai) A Treatment For Infertility/ Repeat Breeding?

Ø Answer: No, Ai Is Not A Treatment For Infertility Or Repeat Breeding. It Is An Artificial Method To Inseminate An Animal With Semen Of Disease Free High Genetic Merit (Hgm) Bull. If An Animal Is Not Able To Conceive Through Natural Service Due To Infertility Then It Won’t Conceive Even Through Artificial Insemination.

7. Question: Is There Any Advantage Of Using More Than One Dose Of Semen In One Heat?

Ø Answer: If Done At Correct Time Of Heat Using Good Quality Semen And Using Correct Ai Technique Following Standard Operating Procedure (Sop) One Dose Of Semen Is Sufficient For Successful Conception. However, In A Few Cases, If The Heat Period Is Extended Beyond Normal Duration; Ovulation Is Also Delayed And In Such Cases, Second Insemination May Be Required.

8. Question: Should I Take The Animal To A Bull After Ai?

Ø Answer: No, The Animal Should Never Be Taken To A Bull After Ai.

9. Question: What Is The Ideal Success Rate Of Ai?

Ø Answer: Success Rate Of 40% And Above Will Be Appropriate.

10. Question: Is Ai Successful In Buffaloes?

Ø Answer: Yes, Ai In Buffaloes Is As Successful As In Cows. However, Proper Care Should Be Taken For Detection Of Heat And Timely Insemination Of Buffaloes For Higher Conception. The Only Problem One Encounters With Buffalo Is Silent Heat Where In Animals Do Not Exhibit Heat Symptoms Overtly And Duration Of Heat Is Also Reduced.

11. Question: Does Ai Produce Only Male Calves Or Weak Calves Or, Reduce Milk Yield Of The Dam?

Ø Answer: Analyzing Large Number Of Observations Has Revealed That There Is No Adverse Effect Of Ai On Male: Female Ratio, Calf Birth Weight Or Milk Production Of Dam. These Are Superstitions Or Myths Which Are Propagated By Vested Interests Without Any Scientific Evidence.

12. Question: Which Bull Semen Is Most Suitable For Breeding A Non-Descript Indian Cow To Get Better Milk From Its Progeny?

Ø Answer: Use Of Semen From Indigenous Bulls Like Sahiwal/Gir/Red Sindhi Etc. Is Most Suitable Depending On Resources Or Breeding Policy Of The State. If The Farmer Has Resources To Maintain A Crossbred Animal And The State Breeding Policy Permits It, He Can Use Pure Hf/Jersey Semen For Production Of A Crossbred Progeny.

13. Question: How Does Milk Recording Help The Farmer In General?

Ø Answer: Milk Recording Helps The Farmer To Get A Complete Lactation Record Of His Animal. He Also Gets An Idea Of Performance Of His Animal As Compared To The Performance Of Other Animal In His Herd Or Village. This Information Helps Him To Take A Decision On Managing The Animal, Whether To Retain It, Cull It Or Use It For Production Of Progenies For Herd Replacement.

14. Question: Why Are Different Traits Such As Body Conformation, Milk Components And Growth Rate Being Measured?

Ø Answer: Milk Yield Is Not The Sole Criteria For Judging The Performance Of The Animal. Milk Should Also Be Tested For Other Milk Components Like Fat, Protein And Lactose Content As These Parameters Decide The Market Price Of Milk. Body Confirmation And Growth Rate Are Highly And Positively Correlated To Production And Reproduction Traits.

15. Question: Why Are My Animals Being Tested For Diseases Under Bull Production Programmers (Pt & Ps)?

Ø Answer: To Ensure Production Of Disease Free Semen, It Is Necessary That They Are Free From Diseases Which May Be Transmitted Through Semen. Therefore, Whenever Hgm Bulls Are Produced, The Bull Calf As Well Its Mother Is Tested To Confirm Their Disease Free Status.

16. Question: What Is Sexed Semen? Where It Is Available? What Is The Cost? Is It Available With All Aits? How To Verify Whether Sexed Semen Has Been Used On My Animal? Is It Available For All Breeds And For Buffaloes Also? What Are The Advantages Of Using Sexed Semen Over Conventional Semen? What Is The Success Rate?

Ø Answer: Semen Having Sperms To Produce More Progenies Of A Desired Sex (With About 80-90% Accuracy) Is Known As Sexed Semen. Currently No Agency Is Producing Sexed Semen In India So It Has To Be Imported. Sexed Semen Is Available At The Rate Of Rs.1,500 To 2,000 Per Dose. However, Some States Are Making It Available At A Subsidized Rate. Sexed Semen Is Not Available With All Aits. To Verify Whether Sexed Semen Has Been Used Or Not, The Straw Can Be Checked For The Details Of Sexed Semen And Reliability Of The Source. Sexed Semen Is Not Available For All Breeds Of Cattle And Buffalo In India, Presently It Is Available For Only Hf And Jersey Breeds. As Sexed Semen Is Imported, Approval From State Ah Department Is Required To Use It And Keeping Complete Records Of Progeny Born Out Of Imported Semen Is Mandatory. It Is Reported That Use Of Sexed Semen Gives 80-90% Accuracy As Compared To Conventional Semen Straws Where Male: Female Ratio Is About 50:50. However, As Sperm Concentration In Sexed Semen Straw Is Far Less Than The Conventional Semen Straw And The Sorting Procedure Itself Damages The Sexed Sperm, Conception Rate Is 10 To 20 % Less With Sexed Semen As Compared To Normal Semen.

17. Question: What Is Embryo Transfer (Et)? Is It An Alternative To Ai To Get My Cow/Buffalo Conceived? My Cow/ Buffalo Is Not Getting Conceived In Spite Of Repeated Ai, Can I Use Et To Get It Conceived? Who Can Provide Me Et Services? What Is The Cost? Can I Have A Choice Of Sex Of Calf Through Et?

Ø Answer: In Et Technique, The Embryos Produced Out Of Elite Cow And Buffalo Is Transferred To A Recipient Animal Which Acts As A Surrogate Mother And Carries The Embryo To Full Term. Et Is A Technique To Increase The Reproduction Rate Of Genetically Superior Females – To Get More Calves In A Life Time Than Possible Through Normal Reproduction. For Et One Needs Reproductively Healthy Animals. No, Et Is Not An Alternative To Ai To Get The Animal Conceived. Et Services Cannot Be Provided At Farmer’s Level On Individual Basis. However Et Is Being Carried Out By A Few Organizations In India Namely, Sag, Bidaj (Gujarat), Pbgsbs, Haringhata (West Bengal), Pldb, Chandigarh, (Punjab), Uldb, Dehradun (Uttarakhand) And Baif, Pune (Maharashtra) To Produce Hgm Bulls For Semen Production. No, Et Does Not Provide A Choice On The Sex Of The Calf. An Embryo Cannot Be Transferred Using An Ai Gun And Requires Specialized Skills And Transfer Equipment. Therefore Do Not Believe If A Person Claims To Have An Embryo And Proposes To Transfer It Into Your Animal. Check His Antecedents Properly.