FROM CALF TO BUFFALO’S
Buffalo’s health needs change as they grow, and it’s a dairy farmer’s job (often in partnership with a veterinarian) to make sure they’re well taken care of.
Caring for the calf
Like any young animal, the calf will require special attention. Newborns are particularly susceptible to disease, so they’re isolated and fed colostrum – the first of their mother’s milk which is rich in antibodies – for their first three days.
Caring for the sick
Aadhyasri dairy farmers are required to have a relationship with a licensed veterinarian to help them keep their herd healthy. If a Buffalo is treated with antibiotics, her milk is discarded for a regulated period of time to ensure the medicine has completely cleared her system.
Preparing for birth
Buffalo’s are usually bred at 15 months of age, and after a nine-month pregnancy, they will have their first calf at around two years old. Buffalo’s are usually milked for about 10 months and then dried off (milking stops) for two months as they prepare for the birth of their next calf. A cow’s gestation period (time from conception to birth) is typically about 285 days, 10 days longer than a human’s.
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