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All Silage Forage Programs for Dairy Cattle. I. Heifer Performance from Birth to Eighteen Months of Age

Departments of Animal and Poultry Science¹
and Clinical Studies, University of Guelph², Guelph, Canada

ABSTRACT

Corn silage, blended corn silage, and hay crop silage (60:40 dry matter) or blended corn silage and chopped hay (60:40 dry matter) were each fed ad libitum as the sole forage to 15 Holstein-Friesian calves from birth. Calves were fed 150 kg whole milk and an average of 150 kg calf starter during the initial 16 wk individual feeding. After 16 wk, heifers were fed by age group and treatment. Animals on corn silage treatment received .5 kg per head per day of protein supplement, and all treatments received additional concentrate according to body weight. Breeding commenced at the first estrus after 13 mo and 350 kg body-weight. No differences in intakes of forage or total dry matter, growth, age at first breeding, or conception occurred between treatments up to 18 mo. Dairy heifers can be raised as successfully to 18 mo on corn silage as the only forage as compared to combinations of corn and hay crop silages or corn silage and hay.