An Assessment of Indian Livestock Owners’ Selective Management Practices for Risk Amelioration of Obstructive Urolithiasis in Water Buffalo Male Calves

Abstract

Background: Obstructive urolithiasis is a life-threatening and painful disease in both the sexes of dairy animals. In water buffaloes also, both sexes can be affected, but formation of urinary tract calculi, leading to blockages are primarily observed in male calves. Methods: The present study was carried on 105 uncastrated water buffalo male calves suffering from obstructive urolithiasis. Detailed management and housing practices followed by calf owners were recorded after confirmation of diagnosis. A similar number (n. 105) of healthy uncastrated buffalo male calves during this period were also included in this study as control. Result: Practice of feeding calves with rations high in cereal grains and low in roughage significantly (P less than 0.01) contributed to development of obstructive urolithiasis. Supplementation of feed with ammonium chloride, vitamins and salt lick along with water accessibility to calves significantly (P less than 0.01) reduces the occurrence of obstructive urolithiasis. Furthermore, an unprecedented observation regarding the tethering arrangement of calves with their dams after parturition was also found to be significant (P less than 0.01). Therefore, obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves have multifactorial etiologies and pinpointing the exact cause remains elusive. However, beyond the established causative practices, tethering practice may also lead to this condition.