EFFECT OF PRE-WEANING FEEDING REGIMENS ON POST-WEANING GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SAHIWAL CALVES

Published: November 19, 2011

By: S. A. Bhatti, A. Ali, D. McGill, M. Sarwar, M. Afzal, Ehsanullah1, M. A. Amer, M. S. Khan, R. Bush, P.C. Wynn, and H. M. Warriach

Summary

The objective of the study was to establish the post-weaning growth potential of Sahiwal calves reared on four different pre-weaning diets. Sahiwal calves (n=48; 24 of each sex 3±2 days of age) were divided into four groups of 12 animals each (6 of each sex) and were offered one of the following dietary treatments from day 3±2 postpartum: A: whole cow's milk + starter ration (SR; CP=20%, TDN= 72%) plus Berseem hay (H; Egyptian Clover; CP= 21% TDN=63%); B: Milk + H; C: Milk replacer (MR; reconstituted to specification; Sprayfo®) + SR+H and D: MR + H. Milk or MR was offered at the rate of 10% of their body weight until day 56 and then withdrawn gradually until weaned completely by day 84. The SR and H were continued until day 84. During the post-weaning period the calves were fed a single total mixed ration containing 16% CP and 70% TDN, from the 13th to the 24th week of age. This ration was fed ad libitum, daily feed intake was measured and live-weights were recorded weekly. The data were analyzed by MIXED procedures of SAS. The growth rate, total live-weight gain and final live-weight of calves at 24 weeks of age were 746±33, 660±34, 654±33 and 527±33 g/d; 63.2±2.6, 55.2±2.7, 54.9±2.7 and 44.2±2.6 kg; and 119±4.2, 102±4.3, 95±4.3 and 75±4.2 kg for the pre-weaning treatments A, B, C and D, respectively; these were influenced (P<0.05) by the pre-weaning treatments. Offering whole milk from birth at the rate of at least 10% of bodyweight with concentrates leads to a higher weaning weight and post-weaning growth rate and hence a greater possibility of early maturity. Keywords: Calf Nutrition, Post-weaning growth

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