Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T05:29:58.234Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bailey, P. C. & Øeskov, E. R. (1974). The effect of ruminal or post-ruminal digestion of lactose or fat on the voluntary intake and digestibility of dried grass by lambs. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 33, 45A.Google ScholarPubMed
Baker, R. D., Le Du, Y. L. P. & Barker, J. M. (1976). Milk-fed calves. 1. The effect of milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves. Journal of AgriculturalScience, Cambridge 87, 187–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodgson, J., Rodriguez Capriles, J. M. & Fenlon, J. S. (1977). The influence of sward characteristics on the herbage intake of grazing calves. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 743–750.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kowalczyk, J., Øbskov, E. R., Robinson, J. J. & Stewaet, C. S. (1977). Effect of fat supplementation on voluntary food intake and rumen metabolism in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 37, 251–257.Google Scholar
Le Du, Y. L. P., Barker, R. D. & Barker, J. M. (1976). Milk-fed calves. 2. The effect of length of milk feeding period and milk intake upon herbage intake and performance of grazing calves. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 87, 197–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Øbskov, E. R., Fraser, C. & Pirie, R. (1973). The effect of by-passing the rumen with supplements of protein and energy on intake of concentrate by sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 30, 361–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shedding, C. R. W., Bbown, T. H. & Large, R. V. (1963). The effect of milk intake on nematode infestation of the lamb. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 22, 32–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar