Functional Analysis of Age-Weight Gain and Age-Feed Consumption in Brown Swiss and Holstein Calves

Authors : Ömer AKBULUT, Bahri BAYRAM

Pages : 345-352

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This research was carried out to determine the amount of concentrate and hay consumed during the milk feeding period and the weaning age of Brown Swiss and Holstein calves. Twenty-five Brown Swiss and twenty Holstein Friesian calves were used. Calves reached 500 g and 1000 g/daily calf starter feed consumption at 36.5 ± 1.8 and 53.8 ± 1.2 days-old respectively. Also, gains in live weight and daily feed consumption depending upon age were studied functionally. Linear and quadratic models accurately explained the live weight, daily feed consumption and consumption of calf starter feed according to age, and consumption of hay was explained by an allometric model.
Keywords : Calf, Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Growth Function, Feed Consumption Function, Weaning