Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 6 No. 6 572-587
© 1923 by American Dairy Science Association ®
Studies in the Growth and Nutrition of Dairy Calves
VIII. Raising Dairy Heifers by Means of the Self-Feeder
Andrew C. McCandlish
Dairy Husbandry Section, Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, Iowa
ABSTRACT
From this trial with a self-feeder in the raising of dairy heifers it is probable that the following suggestions may be made:
- There is little difference in the feed cost of raising heifers to two years of age by the self-feeder method or by hand feeding where a liberal grain allowance is given.
- The feed cost per pound of gain is lower with the self-fed heifers.
- The heifers raised with the self-feeder will show the greater increases in live weights, height at withers, depth of chest and width.
- The greatest relative increase will be in the live weight and though the skeletal measurements mentioned do show a true increase, this is further augmented by extra fleshing.
- With self-fed heifers the extra conditioning may tend to delay breeding, or perhaps impair their breeding powers.
- Ground oats and wheat bran are not palatable to heifers.
- When the heifers are on a milk ration, whole corn is the grain consumed in greatest quantities; cracked corn and whole oats being used but little.
- After weaning, and when under summer conditions, the consumption of cracked corn increased while that of whole corn decreased.
- When the heifers were under winter conditions, after they were a year old, cracked corn and whole oats were apparently the most palatable grains.
- Linseed oil meal was evidently a palatable supplement though the quantities of it consumed varied from time to time.
- Salt was consumed regularly. The largest amounts were used when pasture was available.
Copyright © 1923 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.