Effects of application of vitamin-mineral supplement in milk on performances of Holstein suckling calves

Considering the breeding calves are one of the most important management programs in dairy farms and calves in the coming years are the main farm profit, proper nutrition is important for their well-being. Calves do not eat enough solid feed in the first few weeks of life due to the lack of complete rumen development. Therefore, milk or milk replacer in this period is the most important source of energy and protein and other essential nutrients for the growth and health of calves Aim: The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of vitamin-mineral supplementation (Roumak Extra) in milk on performances of Holstein suckling calves. Roumak Extra (RE) supplement was prepared from Soha Aghrin Tech Co (Tehran, Iran). Material and method: At day of birth, thirty Holstein suckling calves were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 10 calves in each group from 3 through to 60 days of age. The experiment was conclusion at 4 perids. Treatments were: (1) CON (no additives), (2) LMV (addition of 15 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk), (3) HMV (addition of 25 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk). Whole milk was fed to calves at two meals at 09:00 and 17:00. In all treatments same starter (20% protein and 3.3 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy) were fed to calves. Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the experiment. Data were analyzed by mixed procedures of SAS (9.1) software. Results: Treatments had no effect on body weight changes and daily weight gain of calves (P˃0.05). Calves fed vitamin-mineral supplement (LMV and HMV) consumed less starter than CON calves (p < 0.05). Also, the length of starter intake in the CON group was higher than the LMV and HMV calves (p < 0.05). Dry matter digestibility increased (P˂0.05) in LMV and HMV in compared to CON group. Total protein concentration was significantly higher in CON when compared with HMV (P˂0.05). Conclusion: The final weight and daily weight gain of the calves on supplemented treatments were same with control group indicating an improvement in the feed conversion ratio and nutrients digestibility. Considering the breeding calves are one of the most important management programs in dairy farms and calves in the coming years are the main farm profit, proper nutrition is important for their well-being. Calves do not eat enough solid feed in the first few weeks of life due to the lack of complete rumen development. Therefore, milk or milk replacer in this period is the most important source of energy and protein and other essential nutrients for the growth and health of calves Aim: The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of vitamin-mineral supplementation (Roumak Extra) in milk on performances of Holstein suckling calves. Roumak Extra (RE) supplement was prepared from Soha Aghrin Tech Co (Tehran, Iran). Material and method: At day of birth, thirty Holstein suckling calves were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 10 calves in each group from 3 through to 60 days of age. The experiment was conclusion at 4 perids. Treatments were: (1) CON (no additives), (2) LMV (addition of 15 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk), (3) HMV (addition of 25 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk). Whole milk was fed to calves at two meals at 09:00 and 17:00. In all treatments same starter (20% protein and 3.3 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy) were fed to calves. Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the experiment. Data were analyzed by mixed procedures of SAS (9.1) software. Results: Treatments had no effect on body weight changes and daily weight gain of calves (P˃0.05). Calves fed vitamin-mineral supplement (LMV and HMV) consumed less starter than CON calves (p < 0.05). Also, the length of starter intake in the CON group was higher than the LMV and HMV calves (p < 0.05). Dry matter digestibility increased (P˂0.05) in LMV and HMV in compared to CON group. Total protein concentration was significantly higher in CON when compared with HMV (P˂0.05). Conclusion: The final weight and daily weight gain of the calves on supplemented treatments were same with control group indicating an improvement in the feed conversion ratio and nutrients digestibility. Considering the breeding calves are one of the most important management programs in dairy farms and calves in the coming years are the main farm profit, proper nutrition is important for their well-being. Calves do not eat enough solid feed in the first few weeks of life due to the lack of complete rumen development. Therefore, milk or milk replacer in this period is the most important source of energy and protein and other essential nutrients for the growth and health of calves Aim: The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of vitamin-mineral supplementation (Roumak Extra) in milk on performances of Holstein suckling calves. Roumak Extra (RE) supplement was prepared from Soha Aghrin Tech Co (Tehran, Iran). Material and method: At day of birth, thirty Holstein suckling calves were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 10 calves in each group from 3 through to 60 days of age. The experiment was conclusion at 4 perids. Treatments were: (1) CON (no additives), (2) LMV (addition of 15 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk), (3) HMV (addition of 25 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk). Whole milk was fed to calves at two meals at 09:00 and 17:00. In all treatments same starter (20% protein and 3.3 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy) were fed to calves. Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the experiment. Data were analyzed by mixed procedures of SAS (9.1) software. Results: Treatments had no effect on body weight changes and daily weight gain of calves (P˃0.05). Calves fed vitamin-mineral supplement (LMV and HMV) consumed less starter than CON calves (p < 0.05). Also, the length of starter intake in the CON group was higher than the LMV and HMV calves (p < 0.05). Dry matter digestibility increased (P˂0.05) in LMV and HMV in compared to CON group. Total protein concentration was significantly higher in CON when compared with HMV (P˂0.05). Conclusion: The final weight and daily weight gain of the calves on supplemented treatments were same with control group indicating an improvement in the feed conversion ratio and nutrients digestibility.