Abstract:
Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 18 AD LIB. OR RESTRICTED FEEDING OF WHOLE MILK TO CALVES FOLLOWING THREE WEEKS OF AD LIB. FEEDDING. J.A. STEWART* and Maria ROSE** The ad lib. system of feeding cold milk to calves is cheap to set up and simple to operate. However, milk consumption is high and, although this may be partly compensated by earlier weaning, the ultimate performance of calves may not justify the extra feed cost (Parsons and Stewart 1984). In this experiment, Friesian and Friesian x Jersey calves were reared on two They farms (A and B) in the Macalister Irrigation District in East Gippsland. tiere separated into two groups after being fed ad lib. on colostrum and whole milk for three weeks from birth. One group continued on ad lib. until weaning The other was fed, once daily, a restricted ration (AIR) at 5.6 (Farm (=I All calves were reared outdoors on abundant, good A) or 6.8 l/calf (Farm B). quality pasture as is usual for the district. On both farms calves drank about 8 l/calf/day to up 3 weeks of age. Calves fed ad lib. until weaning drank about 10 l/calf/day. Since ALR calves grew as well as ALC calves (Table l), AIR calves may have compensated for lower milk intake Such compensatory pasture intake by consuming more pasture than ALC calves. would be advantageous, not only in reducing the cost of rearing but also in promoting rumen development. Table 1 Mean (s.e.m.) live weight and age at weaning for calves fed ad lib. to weaning (AIL!) or to 3 weeks followed by a restricted ration (AIR) PARSONS, 1-W. and STEWART, J.A. (1984). Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 15: 521. ** * Dairy Research Institute, Ellinbank, RKB 2460, Warragul, Vic. 3820. Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xaffra, Vic. 3860. 554
