Viikin opetus- ja koetilalla noudatettu lehmävasikoitten ruokintajärjestelmä

Abstract

On the Viik experimental farm a standard feeding system has been developed, in which all the calves, independent of the birth weight and of the weight of the mother, are fed in the same way (Table 1). Hay is, however, given ad lib. Water was similarly given ad lib. since birth. In this system the total allowance of whole milk per calf is about 270 kg, and of skimmilk about 860 kg. The allowance of concentrates until six months of age is about 68 kg. To estimate the consumption of food and water an experiment with 17 calves (11 males and 6 females) was arranged (Tables 2 and 3). The average quantity of hay eaten up to the age of six months was 310 kg. The quantity of hay eaten was almost independent of the birth weight and the sex of the calves. The hay was timothy-clover with timothy predominating. The quantity of dry matter eaten by calves per day and per 100 kg live weight was, at the age of 4—6 months, 2.5—2.6 kg, with younger calves it was smaller. The calves began to drink water already in the first days of their lives, and the consumption of water increased rapidly with age. At the age of four months the amount of drinking-water was on an average more than half of the amount of total water consumed, though the calves received 9 kg skimmilk daily. The consumption of food units has in general proved to be somewhat smaller than the allowances in Swedish, Norwegian, and British standards (Tables 4 and 5). The amounts of digestible crude protein have been approximately equal to the allowances in the said standards. The gain in weight as well as the increase in the height at withers proved satisfactory if compared with information found in literature. At the age of six months the live weight of the heifer calves was on an average 157 kg and the height at withers 98 cm. The live weight of the heifers was at the age of one year on an average 243 kg and at the age of 1 ½ years 327 kg. The height at withers was at 12 months on an average 110 cm and at 18 months 118 cm. During the standard feeding the health of the calves has been excellent and as heifers they have developed well. As heifers the animals which have been on standard feeding have become pregnant without difficulties, and the same applies to cows according to the statistics collected up to the present.