Acta Veterinaria Eurasia
Research Article

Growth Performances of Female and Male Holstein Calves Fed Milk and Milk Replacers

1.

Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Husbandry, 21280 Diyarbakır, Turkey

2.

Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Husbandry, 65080 Van, Turkey

Acta Vet Eurasia 2015; 41: 1-5
DOI: 10.16988/iuvfd.96825
Read: 959 Downloads: 524 Published: 23 December 2019

The objective of this study was to compare growth performances of male and female Holstein calves fed milk and milk replacers. A total of 60 Holstein calves were used in the study. Calves were divided into three equal groups. In each group, there were 10 female and 10 male calves. Calves were offered colostrum for 3 days after birth and were weighed at fourth day for the trial. Initial body weights of calves in dietary treatments were statistically similar. The first, second and third groups were fed milk, milk replacer-I (CP 21% and CF 16.5%) and milk replacer-II (CP 24% and CF 18%), respectively. In addition to milk and milk replacers, calves were supplemented with ad libitum concentrate feed and alfalfa. Dietary treatment was significantly effective (P<0.05) on body weight of calves at 60 days of age. In conclusion, growth performances of calves increased with increasing protein content of milk replacer had better than those of calves fed milk replacer containing lowprotein. Therefore, during the suckling period, in feeding of Holstein calves, milk or milk replacer containing high-protein should be preferred primarily.

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EISSN 2619-905X