THE EFFECTS OF WEANING SCHEDULE, DURATION OF MILK FEEDING AND FISHMEAL ON CALF PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to measure the effects of weaning procedure and duration of milk feeding on calf performance and overall milk consumption. In exp. 1, compared with calves weaned when consuming 500 g d−1 of starter (control), those weaned when intake reached 1000 gd−1 (delayed) consumed 2.5 times as much milk and those fed gradually diminishing milk levels until weaned at 1500 g d−1 of starter intake (gradual) consumed about 1.5 times as much milk. Both the control and delayed groups experienced a growth setback of up to 8 d at weaning. There was no change in growth rate for the gradual weaning group. In exp. 2, the calves were gradually weaned over 7 d commencing at 28 d of age and were fed either supplemental milk, wet fishmeal, dry fishmeal or no protein supplement (control) for an additional 140 d. Calves fed milk grew fastest and had the best feed:gain ratio (P < 0.01). Those fed fishmeal grew faster than the controls and had better feed:gain ratios (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the wet and dry fishmeal suggesting that any increased rumen by-pass through the esophageal groove reflex did not result in improved animal gain. The potential value to the producer of feeding over quota milk to calves marketed at 168 d was calculated to be $15.22 hL−1 on the basis of dry feed replaced and increased weight gain by the milk-fed calves. Key words: Calves, milk, weaning, by-pass protein, fishmeal