Effects Of Different Feeding Schemes On Growth And Development Of Sucking Calves

In this dissertation,Holstein calves aging from 0-2 months were used as laboratory animals to study the effects on growth and development of calves with different feeding methods of using colostrum,milk,milk replacer as well as starter.Experiment one: The effects of different colostrum feeding schemes on fecal score and the incidence of diarrhea.Sixty newborn Holstein calves with A body weight of40±5kg were selected and divided into groups A,B,C,D,E and F.The weaning age of the calves in the six groups was 60 days.The calves in Group A,B and C were fed the high quality colostrum with the refractive index≥28%,The calves in Group D,E and F were fed the qualified colostrum with the refractive index of 20%-27%;Calves in groups A and D were fed colostrum once and the feeding amount was 4L.Calves in groups B and E were fed colostrum twice,and the feeding amount was 4L for the first time,followed by the feeding amount of 2L for the second time after an interval of 8h;The calves in Group C and F were fed 3 times,and they were fed 3L for the first time,2L for an interval of 8h,and 2L for another interval of 12 h.Feces score and diarrhea incidence of calves in six groups were observed.The results showed that there were significant differences in fecal scores between calves fed with high quality colostrum and those fed with qualified colostrum(P < 0.05).With the increase of colostrum feeding times,the incidence of diarrhea in calves decreased significantly.Increasing the dosage of first colostrum can reduce the incidence of diarrhea in calves.Experiment two: The effects of different feeding schemes using milk and milk replacer on calves’ growth indexes.Forty calves with body weight of 40±5kg were selected and given colostrum by gavage according to the "4+2" regimen.The weaning age of the calves was 60 days.They were divided into four groups:(1),(2),(3)and(4).The calves in Group(1)and(2)were fed with milk and milk replacer without powder spraying transitional.(3)and(4)groups of calves underwent milk powdering transition;(1)and(3)the normal suckling days of calves in two groups were 7 days;(2)and(4)the normal suckling days of calves in the two groups were 20 days.The body weight of calves at 0,30,and 60 days was measured,and the daily gain was calculated.The results showed that there was a significant difference in the daily gain of calves between the powdering transition group and the non-transition group(P <0.05),and the daily gain of calves increased with the increase of the feeding days.Experiment three: The effects of different methods of starter feeds on calves’ development.60 newborn Holstein calves were divided into four groups and were fed with the same scheme of adding hay at the age of 20 days.In group one,starter feeds were added 3 days after birth and calves were free to forage;in group two,calves were artificially induced to forage and starter feeds were added 3 days after birth;in group three,starter feeds were added 15 days after birth and calves were free to forage;in group four,calves were artificially induced to forage and starter feeds were added 15 days after birth.The body weight of calves at 0,30,and 60 days was measured,and the daily gain was calculated.At the same time,the feed intake of starting feed of calves during 55 d to 60 d was measured.The results showed that the daily gain of calves in the early feeding group was significantly increased,and the daily gain of calves in the artificially induced feeding group and the free feeding group was significantly different(P < 0.05).In conclusion,adequate first feeding,increased feeding times and high quality colostrum can reduce the incidence of diarrhea in early developing calves.The transition of powdered milk can reduce the stress response of calves,and milk feeding is more conducive to the early growth and development of calves.The early addition of starter and artificial induction of feeding are beneficial to the growth and development of calves,improve the solid feed intake in weaning stage,and smooth the transition period of dietary transition.