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Field-cured and Field-baled Alfalfa Hay versus Artificially Dried and Chopped and Pelleted Alfalfa Hays as a Source of Carotene and Roughage for Guernsey and Holstein Calves¹

Animal Industries Dept., Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs

L. A. Moore

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

ABSTRACT

Eighteen 7-day old male calves, 9 Guernseys and 9 Holsteins were used in a comparison of the relative value of field-cured and field-baled alfalfa hay with artificially dried and chopped and pelleted alfalfa hays as a source of carotene and roughage. Both types of artificially dried hay were eaten in greater quantities accompanied by greater increases in liveweight and heart girth, higher levels of blood plasma carotene and vitamin A and greater vitamin A stores than field-baled alfalfa hay. Holstein calves made greater increases in height at withers, heart girth and girth of paunch than did Guernsey calves.

In light of the results presented here together with those of the previous paper (3), the following conclusions appear to be justified:

1. Holstein and Guernsey calves consume larger quantities of alfalfa hay as dehydrated pellets, or as dehydrated chopped, than as long, field-cured hay.
   
2. Largely because of this higher consumption, calves grow faster on the dehydrated hays than on the field-cured hay.
   
3. The dehydrated hays, used in these studies on unlimited feeding, provided adequate carotene to meet the calf's requirements from 7 to 105 days of age. The field-cured hays did not.
   
4. The dairyman who must purchase hay for his calves might well consider using dehydrated-chopped or dehydrated-pelleted alfalfa. The relative costs of the hays would have to be considered, of course. Economic considerations were not a part of this study.
   

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.