title: Effect of diet on preweaning performance of Sahiwal calves.
abstract: The objective was to study the growth potential of Sahiwal calves given milk or milk replacer with or without concentrates. For this purpose, forty-eight Sahiwal calves were divided into four groups of 12 animals each with equal sex ratio. In each group, the calves were offered either milk or a milk replacer (MR) at a rate of 10% of their body weight adjusted weekly. In addition to this, calves were fed either a starter ration plus Egyptian clover hay (SR + H) or hay only (H) until the end of trial. The milk or MR was withdrawn gradually from day 56 until animals were weaned completely by day 84. Calves offered milk grew faster than those offered MR (357 ± 9 vs. 162 ± 9 g/day; p < 0.05) and displayed higher weaning weights (51.6 ± 0.8 vs. 35.2 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.05). The calves offered SR + H grew faster (311 ± 9 vs. 208 ± 9 g/day; p < 0.05) and displayed higher weaning weights (48.7 ± 0.8 vs. 38.1 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.05) than those fed H alone. Calves offered milk plus SR + H showed the highest growth rate and weaning weights (401 ± 13 g/day and 56.3 ± 1 kg, respectively). The lowest growth rate and weaning weights were observed in calves offered MR and H only (115 ± 13 g/day and 30.3 ± 1 kg, respectively). Calves offered the MR had higher number of scour days than those offered milk (13.5 vs. 3.3). The feeding of whole milk in combination with the starter ration and hay resulted in superior growth rates, higher weaning weights, and healthier calves than the other feeding regimens.
authors: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. sabhatti60@gmail.com
authors: Shaukat Ali
authors: SA
authors: Bhatti
authors: Muhammad Faisal
authors: MF
authors: Ahmed
authors: Peter Charles
authors: PC
authors: Wynn
authors: David
authors: D
authors: McGill
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Sarwar
authors: Muhammd
authors: M
authors: Afzal
authors: Ehsan
authors: E
authors: Ullah
authors: Musarrat Abbas
authors: MA
authors: Khan
authors: Muhammad Sajjad
authors: MS
authors: Khan
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Bush
authors: Hassan Mahmood
authors: HM
authors: Warriach
authors: Ahrar
authors: A
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010154:Pakistan; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain