The value of limited grain-high roughage rations and cud inoculation for raising dairy calves

Under the conditions of this study, the following conclusions seemed justified: 1. Cud inoculations did not improve rate of growth or efficiency of feed utilization in calves through four months of age. Consumption of hay was not materially increased by cud inoculations. 2. Thus. it is concluded that cud inoculation is of no economic value under practical calf raising conditions. 3. Calves restricted in grain feeding did consume more hay than unrestricted calves; however, the increase was not great. Efficiency of feed utilization, as measured by the pounds of T. D. N. consumed per pound of gain was essentially the same for calves on a grain:hay ratio of 1:2 (restricted grain feeding) as those on a 1:1 grain:hay ratio (unrestricted grain feeding). 4. Skeletal growth, as determined by height at withers, was adversely affected by restriction or grain in the feeding program. 5. Calves fed one pound of whole milk per ten pounds of body weight daily up to 60 days of age, and a simple grain ration made satisfactory growth when grain was fed free choice (with a four-pound daily maximum) and hay of average or better quality was fed free choice. 6. Thus, it is indicated that a substantial monetary saving in the raising of herd replacements may be affected by the use of a simple grain ration instead of high-priced commercial calf mixtures.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Dairy Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Dairy Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1956

Author dc:creator

• Miller, Alfred George

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04262010-020331

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42280