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Analysis of some factors which affect the productivity of beef cows and of their calves in a marginal rainfall area of Rhodesia. 4. The growth and efficiency of live-weight gain of weaned and sucking calves at different ages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

F. D. Richardson
F. D. Richardson
Affiliation:
Mlezu Rural Technical Institute, PO Box 311, Que Que, Rhodesia
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Abstract

The growth and efficiency of live-weight gain of 36 calves confined in pens was studied between 30 and 210 days of age. They were weaned individually at 30, 90 or 150 days old and offered one of three solid foods which contained 200, 300 or 400 g milled roughage/kg both before and after weaning. From 30 to 90 days and from 90 to 150 days weaned calves consumed more (P<0·001) solid food than sucking calves. During both these periods sucking calves consumed more (P< 0·001 and P<0·05 during the first and second periods respectively) metabolizable energy (ME), gained more (P<0·01) body weight and also gained more body weight/MJ ME consumed than weaned calves. Composition of solid food had little effect on calf performance.

The combined efficiency (kg calf weight gain/MJ ME consumed by cow and calf unit) was higher (P<0·001) for suckling cows and calves than for weaned cows and calves between 30 and 90 days. Between 90 and 150 days, weaning had no effect on combined efficiency.

Eight similar calves which were reared by their dams on veld until 210 days of age were heavier at 90 (P< 0·001) and 150 (P<0·05) days than penned calves which had been given concentrates ad libitum since weaning at 30 days. The body weights of these two groups were similar at 210 days.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 1979 , pp. 213 - 222
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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