Performance of Holstein calves fed ground or pelleted concentrate

Abstract

Fourteen Holstein male calves, averaging 28 days old and 48.17kg of initial body weight were allotted to a completely randomized design, with two treatments and seven replicates, to evaluate the effect of ground or pelleted concentrate on calf performance. The treatments consisted of two diets: one in the ground form and another prepared as pellets. The experiment (84 days) was conducted in two periods (milking and post-milking), each one lasted 42 days. At the milking phase (from 28 to 70 days old), calves received 4 L of milk replacer and concentrate ad libitum and, after weaning, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) hay ad libitum plus 2.0kg of concentrate. Dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and acid detergent fiber intakes and performance did not show statistical difference (P>.05) in the both phases.