Effect of total mixed ration on performance of dairy calves
1996
Suchada Jaroensri
Experiment was conducted to compare between feeding total mixed ration (TMR) and conventional diet. The hay and silage were used to compare as the roughage in TMR for calves. This study was to evaluate effect of those on growth, feed consumption, feed conversion and feed cost in young calves. Twenty-one, 75 percent crossbred, male Holsteis-Friesian calves were divided into 3 groups of 7 replications each according to a completly randomized design. Three experimental ration consisted of: 1) concentrate and chopped corn hay fed separately, free-choice; 2) a total mixed ration of 30 percent chopped corn hay and 70 percent concentrate; 3) a total mixed ration of 30 percent chopped corn silage and 70 percent concentrate. Each group recept 3 litres/head/day of milk replacer until the end of week 8 of experimental period. The results showed that each group of pre weaning, post weaning and throughout the experiment period were not significantly different (P0.05) in average daily gains, feed consumption and feed conversion. Average daily gains were 516.16, 547.28 and 556.12 grams per day, average dry matter consumption were 126.29, 134.29 and 127.79 kilograms and average feed conversion were 2.94, 2.98 and 2.73 for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, throughout the experiment period. The average total feed costs were 969.74, 1001.18 and 953.10 baht and average total feed costs per kilogram weight gain were 22.60, 22.41 and 20.46 baht for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The calves in group 3 tended to have total feed costs and feed costs per kilogram weight gain were lowest.
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