Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi

Öz

In this study, the effect of applied different
feeding programs on growth, health and blood parameters of Holstein-Friesian Calves were
investigated. According to calves sex, period and weaning weight were not
different significantly (p>0.05) except for first week, but the effects of
treatment groups were seen significant (p<0.05) after second week of
experiment. Groups that were fed with normal or acidified milk gained higher
body weight than groups were fed with feed. According to birth weight,
regression of period weights was significant (P <0.05) and regression of
period weights according to weekly dry matter consumption was found significant
(P <0.05) after 5^th week. The effect of calves sex on chest
measurements were not significant (P ˃0.05) whereas the effect of fed treatment
was found significant (P <0.05) after 5th week of growth. Groups that fed
with normal or acidified milk had larger chest size than the feeding group.
Milk feeding, dry matter consumption and feed intake ability were not changed
according to sex whereas the effect of treatment groups was changed
significantly (P <0.05). Compare to acidified milk and feed consumed group,
milk consumed calves employ more milk but less pellet feed, hay feed and less
dry matter in total. The effect of the treatment groups on number of days
exposed to diarrhea was found insignificant. When calves fed with acidified
milk or calves feed, healthy days numbers were higher than number of diarrhea
days.  However, the number of days of diarrhea
was found statistically shorter (P <0.05) in calves feed with acidified milk
or formula.  The effects of sex were
found significant (P<0.05) for G-GT, glucose and insulin among blood
parameters. When these parameters were compared according to sex males calves
have lower values than female calves. The effect of treatment groups was found
to be significant (P <0.05) for G-GT, triglyceride and growth hormone in
blood parameters. G-GT and growth hormone levels were higher in the control
group and lower in terms of triglyceride than the related parameters. On the
other hand, statistically, the number of days of diarrhea days was found
shorter in calves fed with acidified milk or formula fed group (P <0.05).
Using acidified milk during the period of milk sucking period did not cause any
adverse effects on the development characteristics or feed consumption in
calves.