Effect of hay on performance of Holstein calves at suckling and post-weaning

Autor: Robson Kyoshi Ueno, Mikael Neumann, Fabiano Marafon, Marcela Ambrogi, Balduino Adriano Daros, Eduardo Pletz
Jazyk: English<br />Portuguese
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Revista Ceres, Vol 61, Iss 5, Pp 668-674 (2014)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2177-3491
0034-737X
DOI: 10.1590/0034-737X201461050010
Popis: The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Holstein calves in suckling and post-weaning phases, intensively managed during suckling in the absence or presence of hay. Twenty-four male Holstein calves, at an average age of 15 days and initial weight of 43 kg were used in the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of two treatments and six replications. The treatments were as follows: 1) suckling with milk substitute + initial concentrate for calves, ad libitum + temperate grass hay (oat/ryegrass), ad libitum; 2) suckling with milk substitute + initial concentrate for calves, ad libitum. No significant difference was found between treatments for weight gain and feed conversion. However, the supply of hay caused an increase in daily dry matter intake (2.127 vs 1.894 kg). The intake of hay promoted greater stimulus to consumption of concentrate and greater weight at weaning.
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