By Prof. (R) Dr. Ghulam Muhammad, Dr. Muzafar Ghafoor, Dr. Mughees Aizaz Alvi, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
In rural areas, where traditional hand-milking of cows and buffaloes remains prevalent, farmers often depend on the natural maternal bond to stimulate milk letdown. However, complications arise when cows or buffaloes reject their calves, a phenomenon primarily observed in the early postpartum period. This rejection hampers milk production, and the underlying causes remain unclear.
Though the exact reasons for calf rejection remain debatable, one interesting theory comes from Kenyan farmers. They suggest that calves wandering and mingling with other animals may return with unfamiliar scents, leading their mothers to reject them.
Another possible cause involves cows or buffaloes that experienced traumatic or painful births, resulting in a rejection of their calves as part of their response to the trauma.
Unfortunately, some traditional practices used to force a mother cow or buffalo to accept her calf are not only cruel but also illegal in many regions, including Pakistan. These methods include the practice of “Doom Dev,” where the animal’s tail is inserted into her vagina, and “Phooka,” a painful method involving blowing air into the vagina, which even led Mahatma Gandhi to renounce milk consumption. Another inhumane practice involves suturing the vulva to prevent urination, causing discomfort to force the mother’s acceptance. Additionally, irritants such as tobacco powder are sometimes applied to the mother’s eyes in an attempt to influence her behaviour.
These methods are not only inhumane but unnecessary, as humane alternatives exist to resolve this issue.
When oxytocin administration fails to stimulate milk letdown, several more compassionate techniques can be used with success. One approach is tying and isolation, where farmers tie the mother’s mouth and tether her to a tree, leaving her alone with the calf. The slight discomfort and isolation often encourage the mother to accept her calf.
Another method is blindfolding, where the mother’s eyes are covered with a cloth and she is allowed to roam freely with the calf for 24 hours. Once the blindfold is removed, the bond is usually re-established, and the mother often accepts the calf. Additionally, triggering the mother’s protective instincts by holding back the calf while she moves with the herd can also lead her to accept the offspring. Involving a dog or cat near the calf, with the animals barking or meowing, can stimulate the mother’s protective instincts, encouraging her to safeguard and accept the calf. Finally, sprinkling common salt on the calf’s body can prompt the mother to lick it, which helps foster a bond and allows the calf to suckle.
In buffaloes, milk letdown may become problematic following the death or removal of a calf. An effective solution involves placing the stuffed skin of the deceased calf in front of the buffalo during milking. This “psychic treatment” is widely used by urban dairy farmers to stimulate milk production.
Among Punjabi dairy farmers, a common practice is to rub a clean, wet cloth in the mother’s vagina and then smear the cloth, imbued with her scent, onto the calf. Sprinkling brown sugar (known as Shakkar in Urdu) over the calf enhances this process, even encouraging the most reluctant mothers to accept their calves.
While calf rejection is a distressing issue for farmers, many humane and effective solutions are available. These approaches, combining traditional wisdom with modern veterinary practices, offer practical ways to encourage healthy maternal bonds and ensure the welfare of both cows and buffaloes in rural farming communities.
