Effects of Natural Pasture Hay and Concentrate-Based Total Mixed Ration on the Performance of Jersey Calves

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the effect of natural pasture hay and concentrate-based total mixed ration (TMR) with separate feeding on dry matter and nutrient intakes, apparent digestibility, feed efficiency, body weight gain and reproductive performances of dairy calves. A total of eighteen post-weaned Jersey calves (age was 6.20 ± 1.61 months, and weighing was 90.4 ± 5.48 kg, mean ± S.D) were randomly assigned into a completely randomized design. Treatments were separate feedings of natural pasture hay and concentrate (T1) and TMR (T2). The feeding trial was carried out for 10.23 months. The calves in T2 group consumed more (P<0.0) dry matter (8.71kg vs.7.86 kg), crude protein (1.62 kg vs.1.32 kg), neutral detergent fiber (4.63 kg vs.4.11kg) and acid detergent fiber (3.54 kg vs.3.12 kg) compared to the calves fed T1. The calves in T2 showed higher (P<0.05) organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility compared to the calves fed T1 but similar (P<0.05) in dry matter and crude protein digestibility. Calves in T2 group showed superior (P<0.05) daily weight gain (600.55 g vs. 335.18 g) and reached their first service at an average weight and age of 263.9 kg  and 13.61 months, compared to 199.30 kg and 15.63 months, respectively,  for T1 groups. Heifers in T2 required fewer inseminations per conception (1.12 vs. 1.75) and generated lower (P<0.05) total cost of production. Thus, the study recommends the TMR over separate feeding for weaned Jersey calves to increase the productive and reproductive efficiency at breeding.