Page 144 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Inter-suckling by calves: The calves lick one another. They suckle different parts
of body including ears, navel, scrotum, prepuce, udder and tail switch of other
animal. The calves with this vice also continue suckling once they come into contact
with lactating cows. This vice is shown by calves separated from their dams. It is
commonly observed in dairy calves that are bucket fed and separated from their
dams shortly after birth. It is also experienced where purchased calves are kept
in groups. Normally, this vice takes place when calves are idle. Inter-suckling by
calves is also termed as cross-suckling in calves. It brings milk loss and formation
of hair balls in calf rumen.

Control measures against inter-suckling by calves
(a) Increase provision of roughages in the calves’ diet and such roughages should
be offered during periods when idleness occurs.
(b) Separate the calves after feeding, or provide good feed and delay grouping
calves until they are more than four weeks of age.
(c) Feed calves with automatic dispensers with teats and prolong the feeding time.
Suckling periods lasting in about 30 minutes appear to eliminate inter-suckling.
Licking and eating own hair: This vice is more common in calves moved from
individual pen to group housing. Early weaned calves housed in individual pens tend
to lick parts of their bodies that they can reach. Apart from licking its body, the calf
may also lick solid objects in the surroundings with the same pattern of movement.
This vice results in ingestion of large quantities of hairs which accumulate and form
hair balls in the rumen. The vice can be prevented by provision of adequate feed.
Licking and eating solid objects: This occurs commonly to recently weaned calves.
The calves often suck and lick the walls and bars of their pen. This vice can be
controlled by regular creosote paint of wood surfaces. Feeding the calves good
quality roughages and concentrates can also minimise this vice.

Coprophagy: This is a behaviour of an animal eating own faeces. It should not be

confused with caecotrophy which is eating faecal material for nutrition as it is done
in rabbits. It can be caused by bad weather, feed indigestion, starvation or mineral
deficiency. The vice can be dangerous in situations where the faeces is contaminated
by pathogens. It can be prevented by proper feeding management.

Overeating: This vice is common in horses and sometimes in cattle. It is associated
with excess intake of grains. It can be prevented by split feeding and feeding
roughages before grain feeding so as to avoid excessive intake of grain by the
animal. However, if the vice is hereditary, these measures won’t help thus culling of

the animal may be necessary.

Student’
Student’s Book Form Twos Book Form Three
133

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AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 133
AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 133 10/01/2025 12:31