The Animal Biology

THE EFFECT OF THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF MILK REPLACER INTAKE ON STARTER FEED INTAKE IN HOLSTEIN CALVES

Sz. Tóth

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Kaposvár University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
Guba Sándor út., 40, Kaposvár, H-7400, Hungary

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing amounts and quality of liquid feed of calves on starter feed intake in real farm situations.

Three calf rearing system were compared. We offered different type and amount of solids content of liquid feed by using whole milk and two different milk replacer (MR). The dry matter intake in group A, B and C were accordingly 898; 1033; 1050 g/calf/day. In group A whole milk and MR1 were used, instead of group B and C where MR1 or MR2 were used exclusively. The MRs differed in CP level (21 % vs. 27 %), in proportion of palm/coconut oil (80/20; 60/40) and in technology of production (spray drying vs. spray cooling).

The statistical analyses shown strong connection between the amount and quality of milk replacer intake and starter feed intake (P<0.001) before, under and after the weaning period. Between week 2 and 7 the calves in group C ate three times more starter than members of group A and B (129 g/day; 135 g/day; 464 g/day). This difference remained significant later on too. The data of group B differs significantly (P<0.05) only the 9^th week of life from group A. The feeding systems also effect changes in BW (P<0.01) and ADG (P<0.001).

Keywords: CALVES, FEED INTAKE, MILK REPLACER QUALITY, FEED INTENSITY, DRY MATTER INTAKE

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