Effects of different liquid feeding strategies during the pre-weaning period on the performance and carcass characteristics of dairy bull calves

The objective of this study was to compare four different liquid feeding strategies (n=8 calves/treatment) on lifetime performance of dairy calves. Treatments were (1) 4.0 L milk replacer (MR) daily until 49 days and then gradually weaned from days 50 to 60, (2) 10.0 L acidified milk (AFM) daily unt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Animal science, 2011-12, Vol.61 (4), p.187-195
Main Authors: Huuskonen, A., Huumonen, M., Joki-Tokola, E., Tuomisto, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cattle
Dairy bulls
Hogs
lifetime performance
Milk
milk allowance
slaughter parameters
Weaning
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Summary:The objective of this study was to compare four different liquid feeding strategies (n=8 calves/treatment) on lifetime performance of dairy calves. Treatments were (1) 4.0 L milk replacer (MR) daily until 49 days and then gradually weaned from days 50 to 60, (2) 10.0 L acidified milk (AFM) daily until 75 days and then gradually weaned from days 76 to 90, (3) 10.0 L AFM daily until 60 days and then weaned from days 61 to 90 and (4) 6.0 L AFM daily until 60 days and then weaned from days 61 to 90. The calves fed more AFM had lower solid feed intake, higher energy intake and higher gain during pre-weaning period as compared to calves fed less AFM/MR. The calves fed MR had a poorer lifetime gain than those in the other feeding groups. There were no differences in the lifetime gain or slaughter parameters among treatments fed AFM.
ISSN:0906-4702
1651-1972
DOI:10.1080/09064702.2011.645863