Abstract:
This study examined the etiology of diarrhea among European crossbred calves at
Manikpalama NLDB farm, focusing on the effects of feeding pasteurized versus
unpasteurized milk. Forty (40), newborn calves were randomly assigned to two
treatment groups where one group was fed pasteurized milk and the other group was
fed unpasteurized milk. Calves were monitored daily over eight weeks for health
indicators, including diarrhea incidences and growth parameters such as body weight,
length and height. Water quality and microbial counts of milk were also analyzed.
Results revealed that microbial contaminations were high in farm water sources and
total Coliform and E. coli counts were 5.60 CFU mL-1 and 2.56 CFU mL-1
, respectively where both exceeding acceptable standards (SLS 614:2013). The total
microbial count in pasteurized milk was 1.2×106 CFU mL-1compared to 1.38×107
CFU mL-1 in unpasteurized milk though levels remained above optimal due to
pasteurization challenges associated with the high-altitude location of the farm.
Calves fed pasteurized milk exhibited significantly fewer (p<0.05) diarrhea incidents,
particularly in the initial weeks suggesting improved gastrointestinal health.
However, differences in growth metrics between the two groups were statistically
insignificant (p>0.05) possibly due to inconsistencies in pasteurization efficiency. In
conclusion, pasteurization reduces microbial loads in milk and lowers diarrhea
incidences in calves. Further, this research highlights the urgent need for improved
water quality control and reliable pasteurization processes in high-altitude dairy
operations to optimize calf health. Implementing these measures not only minimizes
the medical costs associated with treating diarrhea but also represents a cost-effective
strategy for improving overall calf welfare. Such improvements are vital for reducing
diarrhea-related morbidity, supporting healthy calf growth and ultimately enhancing
farm productivity and calf well-being in similar dairy operations.
