Effects of different quality roughage supply on performance of Holstein calves during preweaning period

• Published in: Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 386 - 394
• Main Authors: Ülger,İsmail, Kaliber,Mahmut, Büyükkılıç Beyzi,Selma, Konca,Yusuf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Coğrafya; Ziraat; Ankara; Saman; Weaning; Buzağı; Calf; Wheat straw; Siyah Alaca; Sütten kesme; Holstein; Alfalfa; Yonca; Performans; Growth performance
• ISSN: 1300-7580

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of two different quality roughage (wheat straw and alfalfa
hay) supplies on live weight gain, growth, feed intake and feed efficiency of Holstein calves during the preweaning
period. With this purpose, 30 male and female Holstein calves were divided into two treatment groups (15 calves in
each group) based on gender and birth weights. The first group was fed with a total mixed diet containing 80% calf
starter and 20% alfalfa hay (chopped in 1-2 cm pieces) as a high quality roughage source and the second group was fed
with a total mixed diet containing 80% calf starter and 20% wheat straw (chopped in 1-2 cm pieces) as a low quality
roughage source during the preweaning period. The results revealed that feeding with high quality roughage (alfalfa hay)
decreased feed intake (P<0.05) but didn’t affect live weight and growth parameters (P>0.05) at the moment of weaning
after 8 week preweaning period. Because of lower feed consumption without impairing calf performance and improved
feed conversation efficiency, it can be suggested that high quality roughage could be supplied to calves in addition to
calf starter feed during the preweaning period but meanwhile economic parameters like feed costs must be taken into
account.