Mortality Pattern in Crossbred Calves of Dairy Cattle

The study was conducted at Cattle Breeding Farm, Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur. A record of 64 crossbred calves died during 2000–2015 was used for the study. The period-wise distribution of calf mortality showed that highest mortality rate was recorded in period P1 and the lowest in period P2. Agewise distribution revealed that calf mortality was highest in 0 to 1 month age group in both sexes and lowest was in 1 to 3 months of age group. Sex-wise it was 19.05 per cent for male calves and 11.00 per cent in female calves. Season-wise distribution showed that the highest calf mortality (40.30%) was found in calves borne during the winter season. The overall mortality rate due to parity of dam was 39.34, 16.67, 33.33 and 31.94 per cent, respectively for first, second, third and fourth calving. The highest mortality in crossbred calves was recorded due to gastroenteritis followed by pneumonia.