Calf feeding and management: The effect of genotype (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) level of milk feeding and type of housing on the post-weaning growth performance of crossbred calves upto one year of age

The effect. of genotype (50% 75% and 87.50, levels of milk (2 and 3 1/day) and types of housing (Barn and Hutch) were examined using 38 Boran x Friesians crossbred calves (Bos Taurus x Bos indicus). Calves were offered supplement diet (180 g/kg CP and 100g/kg roughage) and were weaned until their supplement intake reached 450 g/day for two consecutive days. Then after they were moved to another pen and provided with hay ad libiitum and concentrate equivalent to 1.5% of their body weight for three months. Subsequently they were moved to feedlot and were provided teff straw, ad libiitum and, supplemented with one kg/day concentrate diet (wheat middling) until one year of age. Average daily gain (ADG) of 50%, 75% and 87.5% calves from weaning to one year of age was 300, 242, 253 g/day (SE (+ or -) 15.70), respectively and was not different significantly (p>0.05). Mean final body weight of calves with 50% exotic blood level was superior by 16.2% and 10.3% than those with 75% and 87.5% exotic blood levels, respectively, but the differences were not significant (p<0.05). Body weight of calves reared at one year of age on 2 1 and 3 1 of milk was 115 and 124, kg (SE (+ or -) 4.38), respectively and did not differ significantly (p>0.05). There was no interaction (p>0.05) among main effects.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Osuji, P.O., Yimegnuhal, A., Umunna, N.N., Tegegne, Azage
Format: Conference Paper biblioteca
Language:English
Published: Ethiopian Society of Animal Production 2000
Subjects:calves, animal feeding, livestock management, genotypes, zebu cattle, milk, animal housing, animal performance, growth, crossbreds,
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50245
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