scholarly journals PASTURE FOR YOUNG DAIRY STOCK: II. EFFECT OF PREVIOUS NUTRITIONAL LEVEL AND AGE ON GROWTH OF HOLSTEIN HEIFER CALVES ON PASTURE

1961 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Vern Miles ◽  
V. S. Logan ◽  
W. J. Pigden

Thirty-five Holstein heifer calves were assigned at birth to three ration schedules: moderate m; control c; high h. These three groups were weaned from whole milk during the 2nd, 7th and 9th weeks respectively with m and h calves receiving skim milk to 7 and 16 weeks of age respectively. m and c calves were allowed 4 pounds and h calves up to 6 pounds of meal daily with no limit on hay consumption. Moderate and high rationed calves were further sub-divided into three birth groups and were abruptly switched from the above feeding schedules and placed on pasture without supplementation at 56, 112, and 168 days. Treatment comparisons included live weight gain, withers height and heart girth measurements.High rationed calves made greater growth increases than m or c calves during the barn feeding period. These differences were greater for weight than for heart girth or withers increases. Pastured calves made smaller body gains during the first 28-day pasture period than barn-fed controls. This trend was reversed by the third pasture period with some pastured calves gaining over 2 pounds daily, h calves placed on pasture at 2 months of age made greater body weight gains and appeared to be thriftier than calves previously moderately rationed.

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Leaver ◽  
N. H. Yarrow

SUMMARYWhole milk was given once daily to three groups each of 18 Friesian heifer calves and concentrates and hay were also available. Calves in one group received 2·4 kg milk/day and in a second 3·0 kg milk/day and in both of these groups individual calves were weaned when their daily intake of concentrates reached 400 g. In the third group the calves received 3·0 kg milk/day and were weaned after 28 days. Concentrate and hay intakes were not significantly affected by the treatments. Mean growth rate over 56 days increased with increasing quantity of whole milk offered but the differences between treatments were not significant. The performance of calves given whole milk was compared with the performance achieved in previous experiments where milk substitute was given. It was estimated that 1 kg whole milk gave the same live-weight gain as 170 g milk-substitute powder. From this estimate price/cost relationships were determined to indicate when whole milk or milk substitute should be fed to calves.


1978 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Williams ◽  
I. McDonald ◽  
I. Bremner

1. The amounts of copper and zinc in the foetuses of ewes carrying from one to four lambs were measured at different stages of gestation and estimates were made of the amounts of these metals in their livers.2. The accretion of Cu and Zn could be described by growth equations of the Gompertz form, from which could be derived estimates of the instantaneous and fractional rates of deposition of these metals in the foetal body.3. Between the 80th and 144th day of gestation the instantaneous rates of deposition of the metals increased exponentially, and at the end of pregnancy were calculated to be 0.24 and 2.0 mg Cu and Zn/d respectively in the triplet lamb foetus. The corresponding total accretions were estimated to be 10 and 69 mg respectively.4. The fractional rates of live-weight gain and of deposition of Cu were similar and decreased at similar rates; that of Zn deposition decreased much more slowly.5. The proportion of whole-body Cu estimated to be in the liver was always greater than 50 %. The amount of Zn in the liver remained constant and contributed 72 % of the total body Zn at 80 d but only 8 % at 144d.6. The relative amounts of Cu and of Zn accrued per unit body-weight gain were not constant during the development of the foetus. As foetal numbers increased the amounts of each metal deposited in the foetus decreased more rapidly than did foetal weight.7. The results are discussed in relation to the demands for Cu and Zn during pregnancy in sheep.


1958 ◽  
Vol 1958 ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Preston ◽  
V. Rochanasaroj ◽  
Isoline Gee

It is now widely accepted that the subcutaneous implantation of stilboestrol or hexoestrol increases the rate of live-weight gain in lambs and cattle. In sheep it is generally considered that for a feeding period of up to 12 weeks a single implantation of hormone produces an adequate growth response. Perry et al.(1951), Stephens & Thompson (1952) and Bell et al.(1954) reported no advantage from repeated implantations during the experimental period. In a series of experiments at this Institute (Preston & Gee, 1957a) it has been noticed that the major part of the increased weight gain takes place during the first six weeks after hexoestrol implantation.


1976 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker

SUMMARYForty-eight Hereford × Friesian steer calves purchased at 7–10 days of age were reared on reconstituted milk substitute and groups of 12 were weaned at 86, 128, 170 or 212 days. Six calves at each weaning age were fed high (H) and low (L) quantities of milk normally associated with 240-day lactation yields of 2000 or 1000 kg. Calves were housed until day 63 of the experiment and then strip-grazed on swards of Loliun perenne with a daily allocation of herbage dry matter equivalent to 60 g/kg LW.Herbage intake per unit live weight prior to weaning was consistently greater for the calves receiving low quantities of milk. Following weaning there was a rapid rise in herbage intake towards a maximum of 30 g OM/kg LW when sward conditions were non-limiting. The amount of milk fed prior to weaning affected herbage intake after weaning, and H groups did not achieve similar intakes to their L contemporaries until some weeks after weaning. The H groups grew faster from birth to weaning than the L groups but they experienced a more severe check in live-weight gain after weaning which nullified the advantage of better weight gains between the start of the grazing period and weaning. In consequence, there was no significant effect of the quantity of milk consumed prior to weaning upon live-weight gain during the grazing season. The results indicate a marked benefit from distributing a given quantity of milk over a longer feeding period as similar growth rates occurred for the H86 v. L128, H128 v. L170 and H170 v. L212 groups. Calves receiving milk consumed less herbage and spent a smaller proportion of the day grazing than weaned contemporaries, which suggests that metabolic rather than physical or behavioural factors are likely to limit their intake.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. O'Donovan ◽  
A. Gebrewolde ◽  
B. Kebede ◽  
E. S. E. Galal

SummaryTwo group-feeding and one individual-feeding experiments were made for 112 and 182 days, respectively, with 76 cross-bred and eight Zebu bulls. Simmental, Friesian and Jersey sire breeds were mated to three Ethiopian Zebu breeds, namely Boran, Horro and Barca, while Zebu bulls were included for comparison purposes in Expt 3. The trials were conducted in confinement at Holetta Research Station, located at 2400 m elevation and having a mean maximum temperature range of 18·7–24 °C. In the group-feeding trials (Expts 1 and 2) a common diet was fed, consisting of native hay (30%) molasses (20%) and a concentrate supplement. In the third experiment, two diets containing 30 and 50% native hay were supplemented by concentrate and fed individually to eight Simmental and eight Friesian cross bulls, while eight Zebus served as a control.The average daily gains, feed intake and conversion did not differ markedly between Simmental and Friesian crosses, but lower values were generally found for Jersey crosses. Cross-breds outgained Zebus, consumed more feed and converted it more efficiently to live-weight gain. Performance differences were noted between the Zebu breeds as well as some evidence of sire × dam breed interactions. Significantly higher gains were achieved with the low than with the high roughage diet.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Reiter ◽  
Rosemary J. Fulford ◽  
Valerie M. Marshall ◽  
N. Yarrow ◽  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTResults are reported from four trials in which neonatal calves were given either whole milk or milk substitute containing the lactoperoxidase system.Trial 1 was a pilot trial conducted in Sweden in which calves given whole milk with the lactoperoxidase system gained significantly more weight than controls (P< 0·05). Trials 2, 3 and 4 were carried out in successive years at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, using large numbers of newborn, female Friesian calves. In trial 2 a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system with whole milk on live-weight gain was established by 3 weeks of age (P< 0·05) and sustained until weaning at 5 weeks. There was no significant effect of the lactoperoxidase system for the milk substitute treatment. In trial 3 the whole milk comparison from trial 2 was repeated. There was a significant positive effect of the lactoperoxidase system on the live-weight change after 2 weeks of age only (P< 0·05). In trial 4 two different methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system were compared for calves given whole milk. There was no effect of either method on the live-weight gain of the calves. However, as the levels of scouring were extremely low for all calves, a comparison of the two methods of activating the lactoperoxidase system was not justified. The combined results from trials 2, 3 and 4 confirmed that the lactoperoxidase system significantly increased the live-weight gain of calves given whole milk, despite the fact that the overall level of mortality and incidence of scouring was low in these trials.


2008 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. GARCIA ◽  
J. AGABRIEL

SUMMARYCull cows account for a large part of beef consumption in France and are a significant proportion of farm income for dairy (0·10) and beef systems (up to 0·30). On-farm observations highlight considerable variations in cull cow phenotypes in terms of age, frame size, health, physiological status and body condition. Consequently, an important issue for producers of cull cows is the management of feed supply during the finishing period to obtain a satisfactory condition score and conformation prior to slaughter.New feeding recommendations for cull cows should consider live weight and live weight gain, age, frame size and body condition score (BCS) to estimate the energy requirements. A predictive model, called CompoCow, was developed for this purpose. The present paper describes the CompoCow model by summarizing developments from previous modelling approaches and outlining the assumptions and equations used in the model. CompoCow combines a growth model for the cow during its productive period (3–8 years old) and a model for the finishing period (in days) and was parameterized for Charolais, Limousine and Holstein breeds. Sensitivity analysis highlighted that the outputs of the model were mainly sensitive to initial body weight and expected body weight gain of the animal. The proportion of lipid in live weight gain was related to body weight, BCS and frame size of the animal. The model also accounts for the higher proportion of lipid in live weight gain in Holstein than in Charolais cows. The model was applied to data from Charolais cows. It showed that the proportion of variability explained by CompoCow for energy requirements was higher than the proportion obtained with previous INRA recommendations, 0·78 and 0·67, respectively. CompoCow does not rely on mechanistic relationships, but it appears robust as it accounts correctly for the effects of age and BCS on the requirements.


1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-214
Author(s):  
J. R. Southgate ◽  
A. R. Peters ◽  
S. N. Dixon

ABSTRACTA comparison of anabolic treatment regimes was made in 761 autumn-born Friesian steers on 14 farms. Prior to turn-out for grazing at 6 months of age and approximately 180 kg live weight, steers were weighed and divided into three equal-weight groups. Group 1 received silastic implants containing 45 mg oestradiol-17β. Group 2 received 36 mg zeranol and group 3 were untreated controls. All steers were weighed at intervals of approximately 3 months (i.e. mid summer, yarding at autumn, mid winter and pre-slaughter) and group 2 steers received a further 36 mg zeranol at the second, third and fourth weighing. At the third weighing half the cattle in each of the treatment groups 1 and 2 received 300 mg trenbolone acetate. Also at the third weighing, group 3 (controls) were subdivided into three equal-weight groups, the first of which received 45 mg oestradiol-17β and 300 mg trenbolone acetate and the second 36 mg zeranol and 300 mg trenbolone acetate. The third subgroup remained as untreated controls.From 10 farms a 25% sample close to group mean weight at mid winter were slaughtered on the same day and subjectively assessed for subcutaneous fat score and conformation on 15-point scales. The left thin flank was separated into tissues. Samples of lean fat, liver and kidney were analysed for zeranol residues. All implant treatments resulted in higher live-weight gain, heavier slaughter weights and earlier slaughter. Trenbolone increased daily gain only during the first 3 months after treatment. Implanted carcasses were heavier both in the fore- and hindquarter but trenbolone also produced heavier forequarters. Carcasses from treated steers had more subcutaneous fat, less perinephric and retroperitoneal fat and less intermuscular fat in the thin-flank joint. Zeranol residues in implanted steers were not significantly higher than controls except in the kidney, but even these were significantly below accepted tolerance levels.


1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Brinklow ◽  
R. Jones ◽  
J. M. Forbes

ABSTRACTFour experiments were carried out, with a total of 98 Suffolk-cross lambs fed at a restricted level, to study the effects of skeletal long photoperiod (7 h light: 10 h dark: 1 h light: 6 h dark) compared with short photoperiod (8 h light: 16 h dark) on growth and blood levels of hormones. The experiments started when the lambs were from 2 to 10 months of age and continued for 9 to 14 weeks.In the first experiment, the weight gains of both females and castrated males were significantly increased by skeletal long photoperiod. Plasma prolactin was increased and cortisol decreased by skeletal long photoperiod.Experiment 2 included females and castrated males; prolactin was stimulated by skeletal long photoperiod and there was a significant positive correlation between live-weight gain and prolactin.The weight gains and carcass characteristics of the female lambs used in the third experiment were not affected by photoperiod. Live-weight gain was negatively related to plasma cortisol.In experiment 4, there were 12 intact males and 12 castrated males. The intact animals grew significantly faster; skeletal long photoperiod caused a depression in testosterone levels in plasma even though it tended to increase live-weight gain.When the data from all four experiments were pooled, it was found that skeletal long photoperiod gave a significant increase in live-weight gain in animals whose pineal gland was intact (40 per photoperiod; 138 v. 113 g/day); there was no effect on gut fill at slaughter and the increase in carcass weight (0·5 kg) was not significant.


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