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Comparison of Alfalfa Hay and Alfalfa Silage Alone and with Supplements of Grain, Hay, or Corn Silage for Growing Dairy Calves

Dairy Cattle Research Branch, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland

ABSTRACT

It was again demonstrated that dairy heifers can be successfully reared to calving time on a ration using only 370 lb. of whole milk, 400–500 lb. of grain, and unlimited quantities of good alfalfa hay. Substituting a mixture of wilted alfalfa and corn silages for the hay in such a feeding schedule produced very low rates of gain and feed consumption. As a result, the final weight of heifers so fed was only 76% of normal. The performance of heifers fed the corn and alfalfa silages was below that of other heifers fed straight wilted alfalfa silage. Feeding wilted alfalfa silage plus a supplement of either hay (1 lb/cwt) or grain (2 lb/day) produced heifers that were only slightly smaller at 2 yr. of age than heifers reared on alfalfa hay. Heifers fed the silage ration consumed less dry matter than heifers fed hay. Reasons for the voluntary decrease in consumption of heifers fed silage are not apparent.