Care and Management of Dairy animals in the monsoon season

The monsoon season in India is crucial for agricultural practice. It usually lasts from June to September and brings much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat. The monsoon is the most important season for the livelihood of people in an agriculture-based country like India. India generally follows the South-West monsoon.

The monsoon also poses special challenges to the care and management of livestock. The heavy rains, high humidity and muddy conditions can affect the health, productivity and overall well-being of livestock. Effective management strategies are essential to ensure the health and productivity of cattle during this time of year.

Challenges faced by cattle during the monsoon season

Parasites

Excessive humidity and moisture can provide a favourable breeding ground for parasites such as ticks and worms, leading to health problems such as gastrointestinal infections. Flies are also more prevalent in the monsoon season, some of which are deadly, such as the Tse Tse fly. These flies are known to spread Trypanosoma disease in cattle, which leads to the death of the animals if left untreated

Infectious diseases

During the monsoon, the risk of dairy cattle contracting various viruses, bacteria and other infections is twice as high as at any other time of the year. The high moisture content of the air favours the growth of harmful microorganisms, which leads to the transmission of several diseases. Diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, black quarter and haemorrhagic septicaemia are associated with weather-related conditions.

Hoof problems

Mud and waterlogging can cause problems to the hooves, leading to lameness and reduced mobility.

Udder diseases

Udder diseases are also common during the rainy season. Unclean or dirty stables during the monsoon can cause mastitis, where the udder is damaged and the milk either stops draining or has flakes in it.

Water contamination

There is a high risk of farm water sources coming into contact with harmful contaminants such as agricultural chemicals, dyes, fertilisers and pesticides. Contaminants in drinking water pose a serious health risk and affect the general health and growth of cattle

Watery faeces

Grass that grows in the rainy season contains a lot of water. The water fills the rumen and moves into the intestines together with the feed. This causes the animals to defecate watery faeces in the monsoon.

During the monsoon season, farmers should follow some practices to provide optimum care for their dairy animals.

• Deworming should be carried out at the beginning of the monsoon season and throughout the season, as worms develop particularly quickly during this time.
• Farmers need to spray parasiticides on their animals frequently to remove ectoparasites and trim any bushes near their shelter to address the problem of ectoparasites.
• Regular vaccination of livestock helps to contain diseases on the dairy farm i.e. Haemorrhagic septicemia (HS), Black quarter (BQ), and Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), the farm must be regularly disinfected with a disinfectant to contain the occurrence of diseases.
• The stalls should be sufficiently large, dry and ventilated with clean air. It is recommended that the shelters are built in an elevated position to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to the occurrence of water-borne diseases.
• Regular hoof inspections and trimming of hoof and the provision of suitable flooring and drainage to minimise the risk of hoof problems in dairy cows, as well as the provision of a balanced ration, which is crucial for hoof health
• Proper cleaning and ventilation of the shed along with disinfection of the udder after milking can help control the incidence of udder problems such as mastitis. Clean cow dung, left overfeed and urine very frequently to prevent animals from udder infections.
• Ensure water sources are protected from contamination and regularly check for signs of waterborne diseases. Frequent cleaning of water troughs will help prevent the growth of harmful pathogens.
• A balanced diet is critical for livestock during the rainy season when access to nutritious feed may be limited due to waterlogged pastures. Supplement the animals’ diet with appropriate feed to meet their nutritional requirements. To reduce watery faeces, mix greens with straw or can be allowed to dry in sunlight for 2-3 hours. Chances of aflatoxicosis can be reduced by avoiding moist feeds or oil cakes, which are the potential sources of fungal toxins.

Conclusion

The rainy season can be challenging for livestock farmers, but with proper care and management of livestock during the rainy season, it can be a rewarding time for growth and productivity. By understanding the impact of the rainy season on livestock, providing adequate housing, nutrition and hoof care, controlling parasites and diseases and setting up drainage systems, farmers can ensure the welfare of their animals and maintain high levels of productivity.