Growth Performance of Friesian calves fed Conventional and agro- industrial by-Products Rations

Abstract

Fourty two calves were grouped according to sex, each group consisted of 21 animals then further divided into three subgroups according to weight. The six sub-groups were randomly allocated to three types of rations A, B and C formulated to obtain iso-caloric and semi iso-nitrogenous rations with different by-products percentages. The three rations consisted of the following ingredients: Ration A consisted of 55% fibre (gluten + germ + bran), 25% groundnut hulls, 17% protofeed, 2% limestone, and 1% salt. Ration B consisted of 50% fibre, 20% groundnut hulls, 10% sorghum, 17% protofeed, 2% limestone and 1% salt. Ration C consisted of 30% cotton seed cake, 25% sorghum, 25% fibre, 17% protofeed, 2% limestone and 1% salt. Adaptation period lasted for 16 days before the experimental period which lasted for 70 days. Three kg of the tested rations A, B and C were given to both males and females in addition to ad libitum Abu 70. The amount of the tested rations was increased according to consumption. Feed residues from each group were weighed regularly to determine the amount of food consumed. The animals were weekly weighed and at the same time wither height was measured. The results showed that the average daily dry matter intake by heifer calves was 1.78 to 21, 2.34 to 18 and 3.33 to 35 kg/day for rations A, B and C, respectively. For bull calves, the average dry matter intake was 2.34 to 16, 2.63 to 24 and 3.69 to67 for animals fed rations A, B and C, respectively. Both sexes showed significantly higher consumption of ration C followed by B and A. The average daily gains in body weight for heifers were 0.4±0.2, 0.46±0.15 and 0.70±0.19 kg/day for rations A, B and C, respectively, while those of bull calves were 0.51±0.33, 0.57±0.24 and 0.83±0.24 kg/day when fed rations A, B and C, respectively. For both sexes, higher gains were obtained in animals fed rations C followed by B and A. Male calves tended to have higher gains on the three rations. The weekly gains in wither height for heifer calves were found to be 1.15±0.30, 1.3±0.27 and 1.36±0.26 cm/wk for groups fed rations A, B and C, respectively. For bull calves the gains were 1.23±0.25, 1.46±0.43 and 1.50±0.15 cm/wk when fed rations A, B and C, respectively.