Relationship between management practices and calf welfare in mid- country dairy farms in Sri Lanka

There is an emerging trend towards appreciating welfare of farm animals in Sri Lanka. A survey was conducted covering 182 farms in Mid-Country, Sri Lanka to identify management-related risk factors that may affect welfare of dairy calves. A total of 217 calves were monitored where majority were Jersey (54.4%) and Friesian (43.9%) crosses. The management-related risk factors identified include, not practicing naval disinfection for new-borns (100%), not using calving pens (100%), absence of calf pen (96.2%), dam-fed colostrum (99.5%), high mortality (28.0%), high prevalence of hock wounds (83.4%) and diseases (80.2%). Concrete/cement was the prominent flooring category (90.1%) which causes unfriendly footing as indicated by hoof damageable (45.6%), slippery (75.8%), and unclean (40.7%) floor conditions. The hoof damageable floors considerably increased hoof temperature (P