AYYILMAZ, Tarık Ege Üniversitesi - Ziraat Fakültesi - Zootekni Bölümü, Turkey , UZMAY, Can Ege Üniversitesi - Ziraat Fakültesi - Zootekni Bölümü, Turkey

A Research on growth performance of Holstein calves fed the mixture of cold acidified milk replacer and colostrum

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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the mixture of cold acidified milk replacer and colostrum on growth performance of Holstein calves. In the study, 40 calves were randomly assigned, within sex, to one of two groups at 4 d of age. Calves were fed either warm (30-35 °C) whole milk (control) or the mixture of cold (18-20 °C) acidified milk replacer and colostrum (AMR+C). Calves were fed 4 L whole milk or AMR+C per day in two equal feedings for 6 wk. Body weights (BW) were mesaured weekly from the beginning of the experiment to 42 d of experiment. Body measurements were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Fecal fluidity scores were monitored daily. Dry matter intake from liquid feed of calves fed AMR+C was lower (P 0.01) than that of calves on control diet, but calf starter intake of calves on AMR+C was higher (P 0.05) than that of calves on control diet during the experiment. BW gains, feed efficiencies, and skeletal growth were unaffected by treatment. Average fecal fluidity scores of calves fed AMR+C were significantly lower (P 0.10) than those of calves on control diet for d 4 through 24 (2.34 and 2.47, respectively). Similarly, percent calf days with scours of calves fed AMR+C were significantly lower (P 0.10) than those of calves on control diet for d 4 through 24 (23.81% and 33.10%, respectively). Although there was no significant difference in percent calf days treated for scours, it was lower for calves on AMR+C treatment than for calves on control diet particularly for d 4 through 24 (4.05% and 7.14%, respectively). The cost of drug per calf for treatment of scours was found to be lower $1.41 for calves on AMR+C treatment than that for calves on control treatment during the experiment. The cost of feeding per calf on AMR+C calves was found to be lower $24.11 compared to control calves during the experiment.

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Acidified milk replacer , acidified colostrum , calf performance , scours

The Journal Of Ege University Faculty Of Agriculture

302