ABSTRACT
COMPARISON OF THREE METHODS OF CALF REARING IN CENTRAL CHILE DURING AUTUMN AND WINTER

Marisol González Y.1, Luis A. Casse D.1 y Regino Celis P.2
 

Eighteen male Holstein-Friesian calves from 4 to 5 days old were used. They were allotted at random to the following groups until they reached 150 Kg: I. Milk replacer plus concentrate and plus hay. They were placed on a closed barn. II. The same as group I but placed on half-roofed pens. III. Milk replacer plus concentrate and plus pasture outdoor. Milk replacer was fed twice daily until 60 days old. In groups I and II animals were placed in individual pens. Concentrate was offered ad libitum during the first period and was further provided at a maximum of 2 Kg/animal/day. Groups I and II received hay and concentrate once a day in the morning and hay was given chopped during the whole experimental period. Each day they were provided with fresh water.
No differences (P < 0.01) were observed in average daily gains (Kg) between groups I and II, the lower being groups III (0.767; 0.792 and 0.672 respectively). Number of days until 150 Kg were the same in groups I and II and these were different with respect to group III (P < 0.01). There were no significative differences (P < 0.01) in hay intake. Daily cncentrate intake (Kg) was the same in groups I and II (1.015 and 0.957, respecively) versus 0.856 in group III, but these were the same when considering total intake.

Keywords:
1Ings. Agrs., Programa Producción de Leche, Estación Experimental La Platina. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile.
2Téc. Agríc., Programa Producción de Leche, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile.