engleski

Advantages and disadvantages of whole milk and milk replacer in feeding of calves

Growing of calves is one of the most important and most sensitive breeding procedures in cattle production. When comparing results of feeding whole milk and milk replacer to calves until the 60th day of age, several advantages and disadvantages may be determined from the viewpoint of production, health and economic issues. Calves fed whole milk until the 30th day of age exhibited better productive, health and economic outcomes than calves fed whole milk until the 20th and until the 10th day of age. The best results referring to growth are obtained in a group of calves fed whole milk for the longest period, and the smallest growth rate was exhibited by a group of calves fed whole milk for the shortest period of time. Enhanced feeding of calves with whole milk, based on 20% of calf body weight during the first 30 days of life, resulted in better weight gain, and such calves in general achieve better growth rate than calves fed milk replacer. On the other hand, several authors reported that the highest daily gain was achieved in groups of calves fed pure milk replacer, and the worst results were obtained in calves fed whole milk, so they concluded that feeding of calves with milk replacer achieved better daily weight gain than feeding with whole milk. When referring to health condition of calves, the least cases of diarrhea were reported in calves fed whole milk, while the most cases of diarrhea occurred in calves fed milk replacer. If taking into account the results referring to weight gain and occurrence of diarrhea, it is concluded that calves fed whole milk had the best weight gain with a minimum occurrence of diarrhea. In terms of economic efficiency of feeding whole milk to calves, and when considering the current price of milk and good growth performances, as well as general health conditions and calves’ welfare, it can be stated that feeding whole milk to calves is fully justified and competitive.

calves ; whole milk ; milk replacer

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