Abstract:
In this study, the effect of average daily concentrate consumption on calf weaning time and
performance was studied for better calf raising performances. Forty male calves were allocated
to four treatments. The first and second groups consisted of weaned groups on days 35 and 70
which only considers the duration, regardless of the consumption of the concentrate. In the
second and third experimental groups, 700 grams of feed consumption was taken for 2 or 3
consecutive days. The daily feed consumption of calves was monitored and weaning was
performed when 700 grams of concentrated feed consumption were consecutively used for 2 or 3
consecutive days. All calves consumed daily 4 L whole milk in two meals during the liquid
feeding period. They also had free access to alfalfa straw and calf grower after first week. The
calves were tested at similar birth weight on the 35th and 70th days and the differences between
the groups were not statistically significant. However, weaning times of the groups showed
significant (P<0.01) differences varying between 25 days and 70 days. Two calves were
excluded from the trial due to health problems in the weaned group considering the 2-day
concentrate feed consumption. This study showed that taking advantage of concentrated feed
consumption in weaning of calves can be advantageous without decreasing performance. |
