Feeding behaviour of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infected Holstein Friesian crossbred calves offered with therapeutic diet

Abstract Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affects dry matter intake (DMI) and performance due to mucosal erosions developed on the tongue and gums. Therapeutic diets (TD) in a physical form compatible with the inflammatory condition of the mouth ensures optimum intake with changed behavioural pattern. The present study aimed to record the feeding behaviour of FMD infected calves by offering a therapeutic diet. A total of 22 Holstein Friesian crossbred male calves (10–12 months) were used in which 4 calves were of Control (CON) and 18 calves of treatment groups viz. Therapeutic Diet- Mash (TDM), Therapeutic Diet-Cooked (TDC), Therapeutic Diet-Customized Nutrient Supplement (TDCNS) were infected with FMD virus in the bio-containment facility (BSL-III). The therapeutic diet (TD) was fed to calves in the forenoon session and ad libitum hybrid Napier in afternoon session. The diet had high protein and energy with varied physical forms (mash or cooked). The infected group calves experienced difficulty in eating viz. 0.00 ± 0.00, 19.57 ± 3.19, 25.48 ± 4.13 & 27.30 ± 4.38 min in CON, TDM, TDC, TDCNS respectively. The time values were highly significant between the groups (p < 0.01). Licking behaviour was noticed only in the morning session. Feed tossing, ruminating behaviour was noticed in the afternoon session in all the animals irrespective of groups. The frequency of urination was more in the morning and the defecation was comparable between the groups. The lethargy score was high for 3 days post-infection in the infected groups and subsequently declined. Non-nutritive behaviour is not seen either in the forenoon or in the afternoon session. In conclusion, tailor made therapeutic diets with changed physical forms (mash or cooked) was compatible with the inflammatory condition of the mouth.