Comparative effect of feeding commercial milk replacer and whole milk on growth performance and feed conversion efficiency for Indian dairy calves

P K BHARTI; M L KAMBOJ; AMRISH TYAGI

doi:10.56093/ijans.v82i10.24314

Authors

P K BHARTI National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
M L KAMBOJ National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
AMRISH TYAGI National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v82i10.24314

Keywords:

Crossbred calves, Growth, Health, Milk replacer, Whole milk

Abstract

Newly born crossbred dairy calves (24) of either sex were selected and equally distributed into 3 treatment groups, viz. control, treatment-1 and treatment-2, for evaluating the effect of feeding different liquid diets on their growth performances. Control group received whole milk and skim milk as per institute feeding schedule, whereas the T1 and T2 groups were fed on whole milk and milk replacer, respectively, at the constant rate 1/10th of their body weight. The birth weights of calves in control, T1 and T2 groups were 29.83±3.12, 29.66±2.47 and 30.83±3.07 kg and the final body weights were 64.00±3.39, 73.43±3.40 and 58.16±3.68 kg, respectively. The overall average daily gain (ADG) in control, T1 and T2 were 406.74±17.50, 521.03±17.00 and 325.39±13.23 g, respectively, where T1 showed significantly higher ADG than control and T2. The average daily dry matter intake in control, T1 and T2 was 0.86±0.04, 0.91±0.05 and 0.83±0.05 kg, respectively, which were nonsignificant from each other. The feed conversion efficiency in control, T1 and T2 were 2.08±1.14, 1.68±0.06 and 2.491.14, respectively, in which T1 was significantly higher than T2. The growth rate in milk replacer group was comparatively lower than whole milk and control group. The milk replacer used in the present study was more economical than feeding whole milk and skim milk. Therefore, raising crossbred calves on milk replacer could be better option for commercial dairy farms to save the saleable whole milk for human consumption.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

P K BHARTI, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
M L KAMBOJ, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
AMRISH TYAGI, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India

References

Arora S P, Bajpai L D and Dave B K. 1973. Raising crossbred and buffalo calves on milk replacer. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 43(6): 462–67.

Bartlett K S. 2001. ‘Interactions of protein and energy supply from milk replacers on growth and body composition of dairy calves.’ M.Sc. Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana.

Blome R M, Drackley J K, McKeith F K, Hutjens M F and McCoy G C. 2003. Growth, nutrient utilization, and body composition of dairy calves fed milk replacer containing different amounts of protein. Journal of Animal Science 81: 1641–55.

Corbett R B. 2003. Utilizing milk replacer to maximize early growth rates. Proceeding Mid-South Ruminat Nutrition Conference. pp. 65–71. Animal Nutrition Council, Dallas, Texas.

Drackley J K. 1999. Biology of dairy cows during the transition period: The final frontier. Journal of Dairy Science 82: 2259– 73.

Heinrichs A J. 1993. Milk replacers for dairy calves. 1. Compendium Food Animal 16: 1605–12.

Lammers B P, Heinrichs A J and Aydin A. 1998. Effect of whey protein concentrate or dried skim milk in milk replacer on calf performance and blood metabolites. Journal of Dairy Science 81: 1940–45.

Lynch G P, Pike T L and Bond J. 1978. Nutritional responses of calves fed milk or a milk replacer. Journal of Dairy Science 61: 212–20.

Nagpaul P K. 1982. Feeding of surplus colostrums as a milk replacer for young calves. World Review of Animal Production 14(4): 9–14.

Roy J H B. 1980. The Calf. Textbook. 4th edn. Butterworths, London.

Sastry N S R and Thomas C K. 2005. Dairy Bovine Production. Textbook. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, Ludhiana, India.

Silva A G and Huber J T. 1986. Influence of substituting two types of soybean protein for milk protein on gain and utilization of milk replacer in calves. Journal of Dairy Science 69: 172–80.

Snedecor G W and Cochran W G. 1994. Statistical Methods. 6th edn. Lowa state univ. press, Ames.

Terosky T L, Heinrichs A J and Wilson L L. 1997. A comparison of milk protein sources in diets of calves up to eight weeks of age. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 2977–83.