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Comparison of a Fifty per Cent Hay and a no-Hay Ration with or without Supplemental Vitamin A for Beef Production from Young Dairy Calves¹

Division of Animal Science and Substations, University of Wyoming, Laramie

ABSTRACT

Male Holstein calves were weaned from a milk-replaeer diet at approximately 200 lb, castrated and assigned at random to one of six rations. Rations were 1) 50% alfalfa hay, 50% rolled barley, or 2) a no-hay diet consisting of steam-rolled barley and supplements. Each was supplemented with 0, 5,000, or 10,000 IU of vitamin A daily. Calves were individually fed to an average weight of 984 lb. There were no significant differences in feedlot performance or carcass dressing per cent, 12th rib-eye area, 12th rib fat thickness, or carcass grade of calves fed the 50% roughage as compared with those fed the no-hay ration. Supplemental vitamin A in the presence of at least 3.7 mg of carotene per pound ration had no significant effect on feedlot performance or carcass characteristics. Plasma and liver carotene levels were higher in calves fed the 50% roughage ration. This could be attributed to the higher carotene content of the diet (19.7 mg vs. 3.7 mg/lb ration). Supplemental vitamin A caused a nonsignificant rise in liver vitamin A.

¹ Published with approval of the Director, Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, as Journal Paper no. 264.

² Division of Animal Science.

³ Supervisor, University of Wyoming Substations.