Milk-fed calves: 1. The effect of milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

• DOI: 10.1017/s0021859600026745
• Publication Date: 2009-03-31T03:22:46Z
• Authors: R. D. Baker; Y. L. P. Le Du; J. M. Barker
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0402 animal and dairy science; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences

SUMMARY Two trials were conducted, using 18 and 30 castrated male calves respectively, to investigate the importance of milk in diet during first 8 months life its effect on herbage intake live-weight change. Reconstituted substitute was fed a manner that simulated supply for lactation, yields 2101, 1635 1165 kg (Expt 1) 1906, 1609, 1304, 1005 701 2) over 240-day period. Calves purchased mid-February, when approximately 1 week old, housed individually until turned out graze at 10 weeks age. At pasture, strip grazed swards Lolium perenne cv. S. 23 or 24 given daily allowance 60 g D.m. /kg live weight. The gain response consumption 81 g/kg period 50 grazing season. Herbage per unit weight inversely related but because season responses confounded with treatments periods, it not possible determine true replacement rates. head increased time there no general trend expressed