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THE COIVCPJilliSON OF PASTURS .PJ~D CONCENTRATES
A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requir0ments for the degree of
Master of Agric~l~ural Science
ir'.,. ~~.ni.IIJ.al Sc1ence at
MLLGOLM ~r }$lABS 3Y1i'GRD
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I
FouTteen Friesj_an bull cslves, born May 1972, were
ust=:d in &;.J. ex-perj_men-t to stud~r tb.e use of pasture com.paret-3.
with concentrates as an early weanin~ food for calves.
Early-weaning was defined as the weaning of calves off a liquij di8t to a solid diet by the time tbey we~e fiva weeks of G.ge. T~3 calves were housed indoors in ruetabclism crates, with the
tbem. fres!J.~ The composition of the concentrate diet was
65%
rolled barley,and the bala~c8 minerals apd vitanins.
Tho concentrate diet ~~s fed as a meal ~nd to hel' a~sure the health of the calv~s receiving it, 10% finely chopped riay was addedo
~~~J.e calves v;ere rc-. .0.doml;y alloca i.;e.l to t:C.e:: tw·' gronps (seven c&~ves in each) on arrival, when t~ey were about four days old. During the pre-weaning period ell calv~s ~er2
managed similarly and fed in accordance with earlv-wearj_ng
pract1~e, i.e. restricted level ol miJk i;o indu~e a r2~id
development of the intake of solid food. In. orae:r to
guars:t1tee tL.e ingesticn of past:ure; th.:::; level of conce...-.tre:J.tes fed was restr~cted. The calves were weaned o~f milk by five weeki:> of ':ige,
I1! the post-wea::1ing pe1 i.ou, from .f:'i vr;:; throv.e;i:l to ei.gb.-t weel<:s of age~ one [';roup of calves received p<.lstu:ee .?..2- .; ib~
and the ctner co'::c~nt:eate acl 1ibi_!;_l.§ plus a restricted level of pa:.:;·t;ure ( 500g 1:vet matter/day - aceount;ing for ,g to '1 O% of
tot• al • , Dr,, 1;.t .. • ;n+ake"1 3_ ~, -~ / e
The mean live-weight gains of the pasture-fed calves and the concentrate- fed co.lves were raspec;t;ively,
Oo/+2
-
+ C.03 and 0,,40 + 0.03 1rr-/c'ay pre~weaning and-·
•\..Ol ~L~0.32
-
+ 0.01 and 0.58 + 0.06 b:-/day 0 ' post-·weaning.It was concluded that p&sture mas inferior to
concentrates in promot~ng live-w~ight gain in early-weaned calves. This occurred despite pasture and Ct1ncenta.'atez having similar DE coe.fficients; namr.-.:ly 75.16 and 74.25%
respectivelyo The major difference was that of intake, with the calves recei vi:ng pasture having a signif:.ce:mtly lower
DE :Lnt;3ke over the post- weaning period comparod \Vi th the calves ~eceiving concentrates. The diff8rence j n intake was prol;ably associated VIi "!;h pasture l.taving 0. lower bulk
density than concentrates.
fill and oropharyng8al, whereby this would have caused a differepce in intoke are discussed. ~lso discussed is tbe a_bsolute growth rates vf the ca~' ves rscei ving pastt.re irJ. the context of the possiblf; use of JJB.sture as an early~weo.ning
food for dai~y replacement stock.
Between eight and ten weeks the calves rocAivlng the concentrate diet were changed to pas~ure alone.
caused & decrease iil the performance cf t~ese calves.
Ho·.,,ever ~ these resu~.t;s v-.rere confounder:: by a decrease in the quali t;y of the pasturE: over this period_
Between ten and twelve weeks all calves were
Tne rearing methods were ;:_;hown to have no effect on the cslves t intake of pasture during the twal~th week, provided allowance was made for the difference in live weight which existed between the two
groups.
The calves were put out to pasture when twelve weeks old and theii' post~ex:perimentel grov:th rates recordedn 'l'!1is period waf~ terminated when the avc-.::-age age of the calves was
The results demonstroted that the mean growth rates of both groups during this period were very similar.
Thjs resulted in the live-weight difference established
between the two groups when they were twelve weeks old being permanentc
The author gratefully ack..."lowledges the guidance a~;.d encourage~ent of his supervisor for this project, Mr A.W.F.
Davey, Dairy Husbandry Department, Massey University.
Special mention must also be made of Mr G.C. Jukes~ who gave much sssistance throughout tbB running of the trial and later with chemical analysis.
Acknov:ledgement is also made of:
Members of the Dairy Husbandry Department for t ir interest in the project an~ their enco~ragement
during the writing of the thesis
Mr J.S. Wheeler, Dairy Farm Supervisor, who made t
calves available
Tasman Vaccina Laboratories who donated the calf food vitamin supplement, used ~n the concentrate diet.
Finally special o.c.knowledgement nn.::st be given to my wife, k1ne, both for her moral support 2nd also for typing the thc:.sis.
Chapter
1
2
lJ.
Acknowledgements Introduction
Review of lite~ature
1 1. Control of volu~tary ~ntake in young ruminants shortly 8
vJeaning
E: ::c
Factors influencing the developnent of soli6_ food intake in youug
ruminants
Pasture as an early-weaning food :for calves
Mctterials and methods
2.,2o 2.,3o 2c4., 2 ..
5.
Results 3.,1"
Expe riM Em t <-l.l .f o od.r.
l~:qJerj.lEenta.J_ a11im.al;:,;
Ex-perimental pr:Jcedure Statisti.csl analysis
AniEal heal tr.
Food anf-llysis
p:-Ige
1
.? 7-:
26
32 32 37
3<2&
3~3o Apparent digestibi~ity
using culves Performance data
determinat-:-ions
Discussion
4~ 1"
Heleren~-E.·s
Appendices
Rete~~ion times of diet residues
Fee~ing behaviour
The eo~nparison of pastur':l and
con~entratcs as early-weaning
food_s fc:.~ .-:al"res
Effeet of reari~g methods on sub-
se~uent growth rates of calves
80
84
LIST OF ~PABitES
Table page
1.1. Time spent eating and ruminating during a 24h period by calves at pasture
The experimental plan
Detailed description of the feedins management of the calves during period A
The organisation of the digestlbility trial
Chemical composition and energy content of diets Botanical composition of pasture
Apparent dig;:;stibili ty of energy of the sture and concentrate diets offered ad ~"~--..;._~....;_.;._ __ to calves wheJJ. they v.rere 0etvleen 15 and
c·3
days of age3 ,/+ ,Apparent dige.sti bility of energy of the pasture and concentrate djets offered ad to calves
"7
c..
33 36
Lt-2
52 51
59
when they were f~om 36 to 57 days of age 60 3 ;::
0_,/G Regression coefficients of the rblationship
~etween DE and energy intak2 analysed within diets 61 3o6., Mean daily li,re-weight gair:c of the two groups of
calves during perio0 A 62
7: 7'
:Jo ~ Per¥ormance of calves during their first four weeks of J.ife
3.8. Total DM intakes of concentrate and pasture b~
calves during the first four we9ks of their livec Eec\'ession coefficients emo11g the combinations 0f the variables, live weight of tne calves at 0ne week 6f age, tueir respective total DM intakes of
solid food and live-weight gains over the
66
67
subsequent three 7!eeks 70
3.10e Performance of calves during th~ir period of age
of five to eight weeks (comparison pe:ciod)
71
3o 1-:1. 'l'he rates at which the calves incr(~.Jsed their DM
intakes with time during peri0ds A1 and A2
3c12o ~egrePsion coefficients for the relationship between daily live· #eight gain and DE intakt~ above
m.:tintenance ~vhen the calves ;,vere five to eight weeks of !J.ge
72
3a13Q
DailyDM
intake of pasture expressed in absolute terms and relative to metabolic body size, when of f'ereC. a.<~L..l~})i tum to cal Vc.,S during their twelfth week of life3 ..
14o Da.Lly live-·weight gain of calves d~ring the period of age of 84 to303
days when they were grazing pastureViii
77
78 3.15.
Tise of retention of undigested residues of thepasture and concentrate diets fed during period A2 80
3.16$
Acid detergent fibre of the sts;;inE:d and 1.1nstained diets fed to calves3.17.
Individual and group means for the feedingbehavio~r of calves aged between six and eight
1!'<::eks receiving a diet of eit~.er concentrate or pasture
Comparison of mean retention timPs of various diets
81
87., _,
95
LIST OF FIGTJRES
Figure page
1.1. Probable relationships be~ween energy and
food intake and controlling mechanisms 3 Part of one of the recording charts illustra-
ting the process of e ing, ruminating and
resting
47
1'he digestibility of pasture using sheep
3.2.
Daily ash content of pasture from paddock29
showing increase in ash content due to soil
cor1tamination 56
~~3. PaJdock usuage during ~eriod
A
ralative to ageof calves 57
3o'+,, Group mean daily DM intake ave::::aged over weekly
periods during period A 63
Group mean daily :OIVi intake relative to metab- olic body size averaged ovAr weekly periods during period. A
3.6.
Group mean live-weight changes of calves d~ringperiod A 65
3 c 7., Com.po.si tion ot total DM intake cf 'Jach calf
during period A1 68
3o8.. Relationship betvreen DE intake nbove r::'Olintenance and live-weight gain of calves during period A2 '!5
3.9.
Group mean live-weight changes of ~alves during79 Curves of ~~~xcretion of und:tgested l'esidues of
the two stained diets by calves 82 Th0 distribution of eating, r~minating and rest-
~ acti tie~ of calves
Plate
LIST OF PLATES
Calf in metbolism c~ate (period A1
&
A2) Calf housing during period A3Eating behaviour recording apparatus in operation
3.1. A representative selection of tha calves when eight weeks of age
3.2. An illustrntion of the di.t'ference in b1;Jlk density between pasture and concentrates
between pp 39 - Li-0
39 - 40
46 - Lj.7
49 - 50
53 - 54
APPENDICES Appendix
I Regression of energy content of oven-dried faeces on energy content of freeze-dried faeces
II Meteorological data
IIJ The use of one-day lag versus two-day lag in
calculating apparent digestibJe energy of the two diets fed during period A2
IV The effect of age of the calf on the apparent di st- ible energy of the two diets fed during period
Analysis of varia!l.ce
V ~ Calf and age effec~s on the apparent di~estible energy of pasture during period A2
Analysis of variance
b Calf end e.ge effects on the apps.rent diges·tible energy of concentrates during pdriod A2
.Analysis of variance
VI Group mean daily DI\1 intak,; av~.;raged over weekly periods of the cAlves during period A
'TI • I G roup mean aa1 , . 1 y .,....~' ~M 1n aLe . t k ;· , Kg4 2 average~ ;;J over weekly periods of the calves durin; period A
VIII Group mean live weight of the ~elves during yeriod A
INTROTIUCTIOJ:-T
It was demonstrated as far back as the 1920's (Meads, Regan and Bartlett, 1924) that; cabres could be raised
successfully when weaned off a lic1uid food diet onto a solid food diet as early as 30 to 40 daye o~ age. Des:pj_te this, traditional beliefs that the calf requires a liquid fooc diet for at least the first three months of life persisted.
Hovrever, ir)_ th2 United Kingdom. during t! e 1 95 0 : s be-; ce:tJ.se of increasing economic pressures and a shortage of labour, there was an ~psurge of interest in ea~ly-weaning as a means OI
rea::·il~.g ca.L ve s e Early-weaning is defined as th8 weaning of calves from a liquid to a solid food dibt by the time they are 35 ~ays of age. This led to t:Le formulation of the
11R.owett Early-'flEh3..ning System" e_s proposed by J?re;::-ton ( 1957) and·later ·through modification of this earlier concept, ~o an early-weaning system appllcable to New Zealan1 conditions 8S
proposed b;y r::houri ( i 969) o
These ea~cly- weanil:.g s;yste::..1s lJ.aVc been based or .. the use of concentrate diets as the solid food ontn whi~h the
calves are weaned. Eowe:ver, lie cause these foGdstuf:fs are expensive relative to pasture (especiall~ ln New Zealand) and also becausE': they are :Ln high demand fnJ:- t.'le Flg and Poul t1·y
Industries, there is pressure to i~troduce calves to ~heir
'naturale fooU.stuff, pastub:; ~ at an i•1creasingly earlier age •.
l t iE~ therefore the purpose of this present study to investi t.:; the potential of pasture as an early-we<::uling food for ca1ves •.
