Effect of different forage sources on performance and feeding behaviour of holstein calves | Efecto de diferentes fuentes forrajeras en la dieta de los terneros lactantes en los índices productivos y su conducta alimentaria
2011
Castells, Ll., Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona (España) | Bach, A., Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona (España) | Terré, M., Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona (España)
One hundred and seventy-nine Holstein male calves participated in a series of 3 assays to evaluate the effect of different forage sources on performance and feed intake. In the three studies animals were randomly distributed in 3 groups: control treatment, which was repeated in each of the three studies, and consisted on feeding concentrate without any forage supplementation to calves, and the two other treatments were fed the same concentrate plus a free-choice offer of a forage source, that were alfalfa chopped hay, ryegrass chopped hay, oats chopped hay, barley chopped straw, corn silage and triticale silage. Animals receiving oats hay, triticale silage and barley straw grew faster and consume more concentrate than calves in the other treatments. Animals receiving oats hay and alfalfa hay consumed more forage than the calves in the other treatments. Calves offered alfalfa and rye-grass silage dedicated more time to ruminate, and calves offered alfalfa, rye-grass and triticale silage devoted less time to perform non-nutritive oral behaviour than the other animals. In conclusion, free-choice provision of a forage source to young calves improves performance, feed intake and reduces non-nutritive oral behaviour.
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