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Milk-fed calves:4. The effect of herbage allowance and milk intake upon herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. D. Baker  and
J. M. Barker
R. D. Baker
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire SL6 5LR
J. M. Barker
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire SL6 5LR
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Summary

The effect of herbage allowance and milk intake upon herbage intake and performance was investigated using 48 Hereford × Friesian calves purchased at 10–12 days of age and reared on reconstituted milk substitute. Groups of 24 calves were fed low (L) or high (H) daily quantities of milk normally associated with 240-day lactation yields of 1000 or 2000 kg. Six calves on each milk treatment were allocated to four daily herbage allowances during the grazing season. These were 20, 40, 60 or 80 g/kg herbage dry matter/kg live weight.

There was no effect of herbage allowance before day 95; thereafter both herbage intake and live-weight gain of the L20 and H20 groups were depressed. The effect was greatest for the L calves. Additional milk consumption reduced herbage intake at all herbage allowances. Milk intake influenced the extent to which calves were buffered from the effects of a low herbage allowance.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 90 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 31 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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References

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