The
Effect of Gender and Feeding System on the Growth Rate and Blood
Parameters of Polish Holstein-Friesian x Limousin Calves
Z Wielgosz-Groth1,
M Sobczuk-Szul1*, Z Nogalski1, C Purwin2,
P Pogorzelska-Przybyłek1 and R Winarski3
1University of
Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn;1Department
of Cattle Breeding and Milk Quality Evaluation;2Department
of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science;3Department of
Commodity Science and Processing of Animal Raw Materials,
Oczapowskiego 5/137, 10-958 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland *Corresponding author:
monika.sobczuk@uwm.edu.pl
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the
effects of gender and calf raising program on daily gains during the rearing
period, the body weights of six-month-old calves, blood biochemical and
hematological indicators and correlations between
those parameters. The experiment
materials comprised 87 crossbred Polish Holstein-Friesian x
Limousin
(PHF x LM) calves. 1 group of calves was fed milk replacer via an
automated system, and 2group of calves stayed with suckling cows, which were PHF
cows. At the completion of the milk and milk replacer feeding period,
bulls, steers and heifers
reached body weight of 130, 125 and 120kg, respectively. At the pre-weaning
calves kept with suckling cows were characterized by significantly (P≤0.01)
higher daily gains (0.830 vs. 0.718kg/day). At the post-weaning significantly
(P≤0.05) higher daily gains were calves fed milk replacer (0.933 vs.
0.836kg/day). At six months of age, the body weight of calves suckled by
suckling cows and fed milk replacer reached 188.9 and 182.3kg, respectively, and
their respective average daily gains were 0.835 and 0.798kg/day. Red blood cell,
white blood counts and blood glucose
concentrations were significantly (P≤0.01) positively correlated with the
body weight of six-month-old calves and daily gains (r=0.421 to 0.683). A
negative correlation was found between liver function indicators (ALT, AST, ALP)
and the growth rate. It can be concluded that the daily gains of calves were
affected by the feeding system and the final body weights of calves and their
daily gains during the rearing period were affected by calf gender. Higher daily
gains and final body weight gained bulls and calves suckled by suckling cows.