query

[Guest guest]

On 21 Oct 1999, Ananda Maya wrote:

 

> Prabhus,

> PAMHO AGTSP

>

> "c) Gradual weaning can be prior to 6 months If the calf's coat color or it

> looses interest in milk (ruling out illness)."

>

> The above taken from the minimum cow standards I find slighty confusing. I

> can understand the gradual weaning process and the reference to loss of

> interest due to illness etc. But can anyone expand on the reference to coat

> colour? I have never come across any reference to coat colour, and would

> consider the condition of the coat more relevant in determining overall

> condition, infection, physical ailments etc. Is there some great

> significance regarding coat colour and calf feeding? Sorry, but my

> experience on cow-herding is gained on the job, and I may not be well versed

> in some insider lore, although from years working around farmers I have

> never come across any reference such as this.Comment:

The change in the coat colour of calves indicates that the internal digestive

changes in the young animal have been changed in function from one of

digesting milk to one of digesting forages. Extraction of nutrients in milk

requires only enzymes that are produced in the lining of a simple single pouch

stomach.

 

When the calf begins to eat grasses and other concentrated types of food

(grain etc.) this requires a stomach that has capabilities to grind foods, in

humans this is accomplished with the intestine. The process of rumination in

cows accomplishes this, grass and other forages contain a very high amount of

fiber and best broken down by this process. This process however requires a

more complex stomach consisting of four compartments, each with a different

function.

 

When a calf is about a week old it begins to eat other things than milk, at

first in very small amounts. This triggers a gradual change in the functioning

and ultimately the structure of the stomach. With this change of diet comes a

change in nutrients and a change in external features of the calf. The coat

changes from a downy like texture to a coarser hair and the colour changes to

richer hue. This is all singling that the animal is no longer physically a

calf it has developed all physiological nature of an adult animal. In effect

it is a young adult capable of carrying out all adult functions. Mentally it

should no longer have a desire for consuming milk, because it's digestive

system can no longer easily digest milk. Those animals that out of an abnormal

habit still desire milk are usually a problem, they suck on themselves, on

other animals and quite often develop a bully type of nature.

 

In the Taurus breeds this is first visible around the fourth month and is

usually completed by the sixth month. Generally the colour becomes darker,

this is especially obvious in Jerseys and Swiss. In Swiss the general colour

of calves is a silver gray, actually an under coat of gray with a top coat of

gray airs with silver tips. In adult animals the coat hair becomes shorter a

turns a dark brown (in some cases almost black). At this time they also

develop their breed specific coloration - in Jerseys the darker bridle

markings on the head, shoulders, legs and tail - in Swiss the light dorsal

stripe in addition to the darkening of the extremities. The Frontalis breeds

are more like the Taurus, with greater adaptation to colder and drier

climates.

 

In the Indicus breeds these changes come at later age as they are generally

later maturing animals. This is largely due a more complex skin, musculature

and respiratory systems better suited to hot climates.

Ys,

Rohita dasa