TITLE:
Gastrointestinal Tract Development in Unweaned Calves Feeding Different Amounts of Milk and Different Starters
AUTHORS:
Tian Zhang, Zhiqiang Wu, Qiuling Hou, Yun Wang, Zhiyong Hu, Xueyan Lin, Zhonghua Wang
KEYWORDS:
Calf, Starter Kinds, Milk Amount, Gastrointestinal Development, Growth Performance
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
6,
2018
ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine the effect of
different starter diets and different amounts of milk on growth performance and
gastrointestinal tract development in unweaned calves. 16 calves were assigned
to 4 groups, 4 calves in each group. These four groups received the following
treatments respectively: 1) high milk (6 L) + low starch (21%), high NDF (28%),
high molasses (10%) starter (HMLS group); 2) high milk (6L) + high starch
(40%), low NDF (14%), low molasses (5%) starter (HMHS group); 3) low milk (3 L)
+ low starch (21%), high NDF (28%), high molasses (10%) starter (LMLS group); 4)
low milk (3 L) + high starch (40%), low NDF (14%), low molasses (5%) starter
(LMHS group). The trial was of 2 × 2 factorial design. All calves had free
access to hay and water. Results showed that the low milk allowance increased
calf concentrate dry matter intake (DMI) and total DMI, reduced body height at
4 weeks of age, reduced heart girth at 6 weeks of age (P P P P P P