Vol. 11, Special Issue 3 (2022)

Author(s):
K Archana, Suresh Rathod, A Sarat Chandra and G Alexander

Abstract:
Present investigation was carried out to assess the effect of different flooring material on behaviour of Sahiwal calves. Eighteen sahiwal calves of either sex aged between 6 to 8 months were randomly assigned to three flooring types viz., Concrete floor (control, T1), Concrete bedded with straw floor (T2) and Concrete floor with rubber mats (black, rubber material, 8 mm thick (T3) with six in each group. Control group of calves were housed on concrete floor and treatment group of calves were housed on concrete plus straw floor and concrete with rubber mat floors respectively. Analysis revealed that standing, sitting, licking and sleeping time behaviours were higher in rubber mat groups than the control group. There was significant (P<0.05) difference for sitting time, standing time, sleeping time and licking behavior among the groups except for rumination time. It is concluded that rubber mats proved to be beneficial interms of behavioural responses and welfare of calves.