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A note on the effects of frequency and method of feeding milk substitute on the performance of Friesian and Ayrshire calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. J. Broadbent
P. J. Broadbent
Affiliation:
The North of Scotland College of Agriculture, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB9 1UD
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Summary

1. Forty British Friesian and 33 Ayrshire male calves were reared on one of three treatments differing in frequency and method of feedingwhole milk and milk substitute.

2. The calves were introduced to their treatments on arrival. The Ayrshire calves were offered whole milk for 24 days as two feeds of up to 1·42 litres warm milk each (2W), or one feed of up to 2·84 litres warm milk (1W) daily, or cold milk ad libitum (AC). Thereafter they received milk substitute on one of the following regimes which were applied to the Friesian calves from arrival. The regimes were 454 g milk-substitute powder reconstituted at the rate of 158 g per litre warm water (approximately blood temperature) given in two feeds of 227 g per day (2W) or one feed of 454 g per day (1W), and milk-substitute powder reconstituted with cold water at the rate of 100 g per litre offered ad libitum (AC).

3. Calves on treatment AC had higher live-weight gains and consumed more whole milk, milk substitute and less concentrates than those on other treatments. These differences were significant. There were differences in drinking behaviour on treatment AC between Friesian and Ayrshire calves which may have been due to differences in age at the start of the experiment. Solid food intake was affected by both level and pattern of liquid milk consumption. The practical and financial implications of treatment AC are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , December 1973 , pp. 333 - 336
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1973

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References

REFERENCES

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