[Iron in the veal calf diet]
1996
Morel, I. (Station federale de recherches en production animale (RAP), Posieux (Switzerland))
Swiss legislation concerning iron supply in veal calves is much stricter than in EU countries. The demand for pale meat and healthy, high yielding animals set the frame in the veal production system. On this basis a minimum iron level of 22.7 mg per kg dry matter of the ration is legally prescribed (corresponding to 20 mg iron per kg milk replacer with 88 % DM). Data of several trials with a total of 224 male calves, which were fattened at the Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production in Posieux and whose rations contained the legally imposed minimum iron level, were pooled and evaluated. If iron reserves of the calves were estimated on the basis of blood haemoglobin content, iron supply could be adjusted to individual requirements. However, such a procedure is not practicable. The results of our studies and bibliographical references show that the minimum iron level imposed by the Swiss legislation is scientifically justified. Even though limiting the producers, such regulations offer several short- and medium-term advantages
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