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Genotype—Environment Interaction in Calf Production. I. Growth Traits

University of Guelph,¹ Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

The experiment involved 48 pairs of male Holstein fraternal twin calves. Two methods of raising calves were contrasted: (A) High fat (20%) and protein (20%) vealer ration fed from 3 days of age to a market weight of 128 kilograms. (B) The same vealer was fed up to a live weight of 56.7 kg, followed by pelleted grain mixture fed ad libitum and hay offered to a maximum of 0.9 kg per day. Twin pairs were fed either uniformly on ration (A) or (B) or split; one twin being fed on each ration. The design provided to test the hypotheses on rations, pairs and ration by pair interaction effects. No evidence was found for significant ration x pair interaction for growth traits. Calves fed the two rations gained similarly in weight and height, however vealer fed calves had significantly (P<.05) higher weekly changes in heart girth. The vealer fed calves consumed significantly (P<.01) less dry matter, estimated TDN and estimated TDN per kilogram of gain.

¹ Department of Animal and Poultry Science.