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A Comparison of U.S. NO. 2 Field-Cured Field-Baled Alfalfa Hay with Artificially Dried and ground and Pelleted Alfalfa Hays as a source of Carotene and Roughage for Holstein Calves¹

Animal Industries Department, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs

L. A. Moore

Bureau of Dairy Industry, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. D. A., Washington, D. C.

ABSTRACT

The relative values of field-cured, field-baled hay, artificially-dried and ground hay and artificially-dried and pelleted hay as sources of carotene and roughage for the young calf were studied in 15 Holstein calves. Measurements of daily feed intakes and live weight changes and blood plasma carotene and vitamin A levels at 7-day intervals were made for each calf from 7 through 105 days of age and, in addition, the time to deplete individual calves of their vitamin A stores after 105 days of age was determined.

The artificially-dried and pelleted hay was consumed in greater amounts accompanied by higher blood plasma levels of carotene and vitamin A as well as greater increases in live weight than the field-cured, field-baled hay or the artificially-dried and ground hay. The only demonstrable difference in these measurements between the field-baled and ground hays was in the higher blood plasma carotene levels of those calves fed the ground hay.

The time required to deplete the calves of their vitamin A stores after each calf reached 105 days of age was 4.8 wk. for those calves fed the field-cured, field-baled hay, 8.2 wk. for those fed the artificially-dried and ground hay and 11.2 wk. for those fed the artificially-dried and pelleted hay.

With the exception of occurrence of bloat in one calf fed the ground hay and of excessive salivation in all calves fed the ground hay, the remaining observations as to the health of the calves were not associated with hay groups.

¹ This study was made in part with funds provided by the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, through a contract between the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station and the Bureau of Dairy Industry.