IJAER

International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research™

ISSN 2455-6939

Title:
THE EFFECT OF CONCENTRATE CONSUMPTION ON CALF WEANING TIME AND PERFORMANCE

Authors:
Serap Goncu (Prof), Sibel Bozkurt (MSc), Muhammed Ikbal Yesil (PhD)

Abstract:
In this study, the effect of average daily concentrate consumption on calf weaning time and performance was studied for better calf raising performances. Forty male calves were allocated to four treatments. The first and second groups consisted of weaned groups on days 35 and 70 which only considers the duration, regardless of the consumption of the concentrate. In the second and third experimental groups, 700 grams of feed consumption was taken for 2 or 3 consecutive days. The daily feed consumption of calves was monitored and weaning was performed when 700 grams of concentrated feed consumption were consecutively used for 2 or 3 consecutive days. All calves consumed daily 4 L whole milk in two meals during the liquid feeding period. They also had free access to alfalfa straw and calf grower after first week. The calves were tested at similar birth weight on the 35th and 70th days and the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. However, weaning times of the groups showed significant (P<0.01) differences varying between 25 days and 70 days. Two calves were excluded from the trial due to health problems in the weaned group considering the 2-day concentrate feed consumption. This study showed that taking advantage of concentrated feed consumption in weaning of calves can be advantageous without decreasing performance.

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