Effect of concentrate composition on feed intake, digestibility and chewing activity of rearing calves.

Publikations-Art

Kongressbeitrag

Autoren

Laible, E., Steingaß, H., Ackeren, v. C. and Drochner, W.

Erscheinungsjahr

2006

Veröffentlicht in

Proc. Soc. Nutr. Physiol.,

Herausgeber

Holger Martens (Hrsg.)

Serie/Bezeichnung

Berichte der Gesellschaft für Ernährungsphysiologie

Seite (von - bis)

164

Tagungsort

Göttingen

Tagungsdatum

21.-23.03.2006

Schlagworte

calf feeding, calves nutrition, chewing activity, digestibility

To ensure a fast development of the gastro-intestinal tract and a sufficient growth rate, rearing calves should be fed with dry feed as early as possible. However, separate feeding of hay and concentrate (C) might lead to excessive C-intake associated with sub acute rumen acidosis. C rich in fibre could stabilize rumen function due to a slower degradation rate and a higher ruminating activity. In the present study, the effect of a C rich in fibre was tested in comparison with a starch rich C on dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, growth and chewing activity in rearing calves. Results: Calves fed FC had lower C-intake than calves fed SC, but they compensated this by higher hay intake, so that total intake did not differ between groups. Total intake per kg LW0.75 increased with age. OM and NDF digestibility of the ration was higher in week 7 for both groups, as calves still received milk replacer and as intake level of dry feed was lower. Time for total chewing and ruminating increased with age and was not significantly affected by C-type. Chewing activity in 11 week old calves is comparable with that of adult cows. Although NDF intake from C was 237 and 453g higher for FC in week 7 and 11, rumination time was not increased, what means, that fibre from C did not stimulate rumination at all. Average daily gain was numerically lower for FC fed calves, but growth rate was still satisfactory for rearing calves in both groups. From the present study it can be concluded, that a C very rich in fibre has no distinct advantages when fed to rearing calves. Methods: 10 Holstein calves (7 females, 3 males) were allocated in two groups at 4 weeks of age and received two types of C ad libitum up to week 12. All calves received 6L of milk replacer (l00 g/L) up to week 8 and hay ad libitum. The fibre C (FC) was composed of (% in DM) 28 soybean hulls, 20 beet pulp, 10 palm kernel cake, 10 corn gluten feed, 10 citrus pulp, 10 linseed cake, 4 soybean meal, 3 molasses, 2 rapeseed