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Effect of Pelleting Calf Rations on Minimum Protein Requirements

Department of Animal Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84601

ABSTRACT

Calf starter rations containing 7.9% (Ration I) and 8.8% digestible protein (Ration II) were fed to 12 Holstein heifer calves per treatment from an average initial weight of 59kg to a constant terminal weight of 100kg. Six calves were fed each ration in 1.0cm pellets, and 6 were fed the rations as rolled grain and hay chopped through a 2.6cm screen. Calves fed pellets were pair-fed with those offered meal to equalize daily feed intake.

Average gains (kg/day) and feed efficiency (kg feed/kg gain) were: 1.0, 3.5 (Ration I, meal); 0.9, 3.6 (Ration I, pellets); 0.7, 3.3 (Ration II, meal); and 0.9, 3.1 (Ration II, pellets). Protein levels significantly (P < .05) affected feed efficiency. This was associated with digestible protein requirements of 0.28, 0.28, 0.30, 0.27kg per kilogram of gain. A ratio of 33.6 kilocalories digestible energy per gram of digestible protein was a satisfactory energy to protein ratio with 37.7 kcal per gram being too wide. Total serum protein, globulin, and albumin was 7.47, 5.53, 1.96 (Ration I, meal) ; 7.15, 5.39, 1.52 (Ration I, pellets); 7.48, 4.89, 2.59 (Ration II, meal); 7.38, 4.86, 2.46g per 100ml (Ration II, pellets). Average blood glucose was 51.5 (Ration I, meal); 53.1 (Ration I, pellets); 54.2 (Ration II, meal); 53.5mg per 100ml (Ration II, pellets).