SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE OF BULL CALVES WINTERED ON TWO PLANES OF NUTRITION AND TWO FEEDING METHODS

Abstract

Bull calves fed a high-plane ration (two-thirds grain and one-third hay), for 168 days in a feedlot, compared with similar calves fed a low-plane ration (hay only), had average daily gains (ADG) that were appoximately 2.1 times greater when the rations were individually fed and 1.8 times greater when they were group-fed. ADG of calves grazing for 168 days after they had been fed the low-plane ration in a feedlot surpassed that of calves that had been fed the high-plane ration by 1.7 times when individually fed and 1.9 times when group-fed. Animals group-fed the low-plane ration, however, did not compensate fully for their lower feedlot gains; their ADG to 18 months (685 g) remained significantly less than that (735 g) of those group-fed the high-plane ration. In the feedlot, gains of group-fed calves were significantly greater than those of calves individually fed the high- (998 vs. 830 g) and low- (567 vs. 494 g) plane rations.Calves on the individually-fed, high-plane ration consumed about 75% as many kg total digestible nutrients (TDN) per kg gain as those on the individually-fed, low-plane ration. Angus calves consumed 11% more kg TDN per kg gain than the Herefords.