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Effect of Milk Level and Biological Type on Calf Growth and Performance^{1 ,2,}

Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74074 and and U.S. Department of Agriculture, El Reno 73036

Abstract

The effect of two levels of milk intake on the performance of calves of two biological types was determined. The experimental design was effected by breeding Hereford cows to Angus bulls and Friesian cows to Charolais bulls, followed by reciprocal cross-fostering of about one-half of the calves of each group. The high level of milk consumption (produced by Friesians) among A x H calves increased (P<.05) weaning weights by 20% on range and 19% in drylot. Among C x F calves, the high level of milk consumption resulted in increased (P<.05) weaning weights by 23% on range and 22% in drylot. Increasing the level of milk intake from less than 5 to more than 10 kg per day reduced the apparent efficiency of conversion of milk to calf gain by 51 to 72%. Relative forage intake was reduced (P<.05) 32 and 38% in A x H and C x F calves on high levels of milk intake in early summer (May). In late summer (August) forage intake was reduced (P<.05) 29% in A x H calves on the high milk intake level, but forage intake was not affected (P>.05) by level of miik intake in C x F calves. Level of milk intake did not affect (P>.50) energetic efficiency (DE/kg gain) among A x H calves in drylot. C x F calves consuming the low milk level required 8.5% less (P<.05) DE per kg gain than calves at the high milk level.

¹ Journal Article 3218 of the Agriculture Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. This research was conducted by the Department of Animal Science in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Southern Region.

² The authors wish to express their appreciation to Leon Knori, Wayne Brown and Ed Stelting for their care of experimental animals and to Mike Brown for his assistance with the statistical analyses.

³ Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74074.

⁴ Present address: Superintendent, Southwestern Livestock and Forage Research Station, El Reno 73036.

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