Dr. Rahul Deb Mukherjee, Golahat Main Road, Burdwan (2025)

27/06/2025

জয় জগন্নাথ 🙏🏻

21/06/2025

Birth to Weaning: The Forgotten Window of Animal Nutrition 🐾
The first 60 days = the foundation of a lifetime.

From colostrum to kibble, the nutrition a young animal receives from birth to weaning determines their immunity, growth, disease resistance, and organ development.

Yet, this phase is often overlooked — especially milk support and weaning nutrition.

🔍 Why Is This Period So Critical?
🔹 0–3 Days: Colostrum or Crisis
✅ Colostrum within 6–12 hrs provides essential antibodies (IgG)
✅ Rich in vitamin A, selenium, enzymes, and growth factors
❗No colostrum = high risk of infections, poor survival, and failure to thrive

🔹 Week 1–3: Mother's Milk or Milk Replacer
✅ Mother's milk offers complete nutrition
❌ Avoid cow milk – may cause diarrhea due to lactose intolerance

🍼 Homemade Milk Replacer (for orphaned or weak neonates)

200 ml boiled goat milk or diluted buffalo milk
1 egg yolk (no white)
1 tsp castor sugar (optional)
1 tsp coconut oil or ghee
👉 Feed lukewarm every 2–3 hours during the first few weeks
🌱 Week 4–8: Weaning Nutrition – The Turning Point
🟢 Weaning = gradual introduction of soft, energy-rich foods
🟢 Supports gut development, immunity, cognitive and skeletal growth

🍲 Homemade Weaning Meal Ideas (Indian Context):
✅ Chicken + rice mash (well-boiled and blended)
✅ Moong dal khichdi with egg yolk
✅ Soft vegetables (carrot, pumpkin) mashed with rice
✅ Suji porridge cooked in goat milk
✅ Rice water mixed with curd and mashed vegetables
✅ Softened starter formula (optional) as solid intake increases

💧 Ensure availability of clean water and add nutritional support (e.g., calcium syrup, probiotics if advised)

⚠️ Poor Nutrition During This Window May Cause:
❌ Growth retardation
❌ Recurrent infections
❌ Digestive issues
❌ Weak immunity
❌ Poor coat quality

👨‍⚕️ Veterinary Takeaways:
🩺 Monitor weight, appetite, and stool daily
📅 Deworm at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks
📈 Introduce solids gradually alongside milk
💡 Use diets aligned with balanced energy, protein, calcium, and essential vitamins/minerals

🔍 From colostrum to weaning – every step is a nutritional investment.
Let’s empower animals with a healthy start to life.