Gümüşhane İli Torul İlçesi Süt Sığırcılığı İşletmelerinde Buzağı Yetiştirme ile İlgili Yönetimsel Uygulamalar.

This study was carried out to discuss calf rearing practices depending on farm structure and management in dairy cattle farms registered in Torul county of Gümüşhane province. For this purpose, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 100 dairy cattle enterprise owners in the county. It was found out that 26% of the surveyed enterprises in the county had calf deaths and the annual calf mortality rate was 5.1%. The calves were separated from their dams after birth in 94% of the farms, umbilical cord care was performed in 53% of the farms, 90% of the breeders performed colostrum feeding within the first 2 hours after birth, and the calves received colostrum by suckling their dams (86%). The majority of the breeders had their calves vaccinated against brucella, alum and smallpox (90%) and the most common disease in calves was diarrhea (95%). As a result, it was observed that most of the farmers are aware of the importance of proper calf rearing, but others need more information to improve calf management. Positive results obtained from the educational works in the county can change farmers' attitudes and traditional beliefs and lead them to adopt better farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]