ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE OF PRE-RUMINANT CROSSBRED CALVES MAINTAINED ON DIFFERENT FEEDING STRATEGIES
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Date
2022-09-17
Authors
DHANYA SURESH
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Abstract
An experiment was conducted for a period of 120 days to assess the performance of pre-ruminant crossbred calves maintained on different feeding strategies. Eighteen crossbred calves of four day old were selected and maintained under uniform conditions. The calves were divided into three groups using CRD. The dietary treatments were T1- (Calves were fed with milk at 1/10th of body weight during first six weeks, 1/15th during next two weeks, 1/20th during next four weeks. Calf starter with 22 – 24 per cent CP and 70 per TDN was offered as per standard feeding practices followed in the farm), T2 - (Calves were fed with milk at 15 per cent of body weight for first month. Then completely weaned at six weeks of age) and T3 - (Calves were fed with milk replacer (22 per cent CP) at 15 per cent of body weight for first month. Then weaned at six weeks of age. Calf starter with 20 per cent CP and 70 per cent TDN was fed in T2 and T3). Average daily gain of calves in three experimental rations T1, T2 and T3 were 287.68 ±16.16, 320.86 ±15.64 and 259.52 ± 13.34g and the respective body weight gain were 32.22, 35.94 and 29.06 kg. There was a higher (p < 0.05) ADG and body weight gain in T2 compared to T3. But there was no significant difference between T2 and T1 and also T3 and T1. The average daily DMI of calves at fortnightly intervals ranged from 0.41 to 1.9 kg for T1, 0.61 to 2.38 kg for T2 and 0.57 to 1.89 kg for T3 and the values did not differ between the various groups except for the fourth and fifth fortnight. The mean feed conversion ratio (kg feed per kg gain) of experimental calves of T1, T2 and T3 were 3.46 ± 0.09, 3.11 ± 0.23 and 3.41± 0.19 respectively and the values were statistically similar (p > 0.05). There was significant improvement (p < 0.05) in digestibility of DM, EE, NFE and ADF in T1 compared to T2 and T3. The blood haemoglobin and serum biochemical parameters such as protein, calcium and phosphorus were similar. But calves fed with T2 and T3 recorded a lesser serum glucose at sixth week compared to T1 (p < 0.05). Average feed cost per kg weight gain per calf belonging to dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 for a period of four month were Rs. 411.83±13.34, 284.54±12.75 and 279.65±18.41 respectively. Evaluation of the results obtained in the present study revealed that calves fed with milk at the rate of 15 per cent of body weight can be weaned at sixth week of age without any significant difference in dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency compared to normal weaning. Milk replacer can be used as partial replacement for milk from first week onwards. From this study it was inferred that there should be an adaptation period for milk replacer in new born calves.