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Milk-fed calves: 5. The effect of a change in milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Y. L. P. Le Du  and
R. D. Baker
Y. L. P. Le Du
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
R. D. Baker
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
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Summary

The effect of the amount of milk consumed upon the herbage intake and performance of calves at pasture, following a standard rearing period, was investigated using 50 Hereford × Friesian calves purchased at 10–12 days ofage. All calves were offered 6 kg reconstituted milk substitute for a 58 day period indoors and for a subsequent 31 days at pasture. Ten calves were then allocated to each of five milk treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, 10 kg/day) and grazed for a further 63 days. The calves were offered a daily herbage allowance of 60 g dry matter/kg live weight.

Daily weight gain was increased by 59 g for each additional kilogramme of reconstituted milk consumed, and herbage intake per unit live weight decreased by 1–24 g/g milk organic matter consumed, equivalent to a reduction in metabolizable energy intake of 9 kJ. Clear effects of both age and diet upon the consumption of herbage were demonstrated. An explanation of the mechanisms governing intake of herbage in milk–fed calves is offered.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 92 , Issue 2 , April 1979 , pp. 443 - 447
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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