Soybean and sunflower meal in calf starters for buffalo calves [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Twenty-four newly born male and female buffalo calves were used to study the effects of amount of milk consumed during suckling period and protein source in calf starters through suckling and post weaning time on their productive performance. Animals were divided into four similar groups (6 animals each). In the first experimental period (suckling period), calves of the first and second groups (G1 & G2) were fed buffalo's milk (437 liter/105 days) beside experimental calf starters that differ in protein sources (soybean meal, SBM, for Gl, or sunflower meal, SFM, for G2) and were weaned at 105 d old. The third and fourth groups were fed buffalo's milk (360 liters/90 days) in addition to calf starter with SBM (G3) or SFM (G4) until weaning at 90 days of age. Good quality hay was offered ad libitum for all groups from the second week of age. During the second experimental period (from weaning till 9 mo. old) calves were fed on the starter previously offered in the first period in addition to berseem hay and rice straw. While in the third experimental period (up to 15 mo. old) the experimental calves were fed on one ration consisted of commercial concentrate feed mixture plus rice straw and berseem hay. The results during the suckling period showed that calves weaned at 90 day (G3 and G4) consumed significantly (P<0.05) less daily DM than those weaned at 105 days (Gl and, G2). However, no effect due to protein source on DMI and daily gains was recorded. Moreover, SFM calves were less (P<0.05) efficient in feed conversion than SBM calves. The results indicated, also, that the cost of one-kg LBG for calves weaned earlier (G3, G4) was 19"10 less (P<0.05) than that weaned at 105 day (Gl, and G2,). The results of the second experimental period revealed that time of weaning had no effect on daily feed intake and feed efficiency values. However, there was a significant effect on growth rates. In the same time, there was a significant effect due to source of protein in calf starter when fed pre and post weaning on feed intake and growth rates, while no effect (P>0.05) on DM : gain ratio was detected. The results of the third experimental period indicated that there was no significant effect to prior treatment on daily intakes of DM, TDN and DCP. While age at weaning significantly (P<0.05) affected on growth rates and feed efficiency However, no effect (P>O.05) due to the source of protein, previously fed during the first and second experimental periods, on the growth rates or efficiency either expressed as DMI, TDNI or DCPI per kg gain. Economical evaluation showed that weaning time at suckling period had only the significant (P<0.05) effect on the parameters measured.

Summary in Arabic.

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