title: Short communication: Effects of processing methods of barley grain in starter diets on feed intake and performance of dairy calves.
abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different processing methods of barley grain in starter rations on feed intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, skeletal growth, fecal score, and rumen pH of dairy calves. Thirty-two Holstein dairy calves (16 female and 16 male) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments consisting of coarse ground, whole, steam-rolled, or roasted barley from d 4 to 56 of birth in a completely randomized design. Starter diets were formulated to have similar ingredients and composition. All calves had free access to water and feed throughout the study period and received 4 L of milk/d from a bottle from d 4 to 41, 2L/d from d 41 to 45, and weaning occurred on d 45. Feed intake and fecal score were recorded daily. Body weight and skeletal growth measures were recorded on d 4 (beginning of the study), 45, and 56. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected on d 35, 45, and 56. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The results indicate that different methods of processing barley had no detectable effect on dry matter intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency and that skeletal growth, health, and rumen pH were not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, the results show that different processing methods of barley included in starter diets had no detectable effect on the performance of dairy calves under our experimental conditions. Therefore, feeding whole or coarsely ground barley would be a more economical method compared with steam rolled or roasted barley.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jarrah
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156, Iran.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844. Electronic address: rezamand@uidaho.edu.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rezamand
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khorvash
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D001467:Hordeum; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: dairy calf; processed barley; starter diet