Increase in Body Dimensions of Post-Weaning Female Holstein Friesian Calves Due to the Use of Lactation Cow Concentrate by Calf Starter Substitution

Abstrak

The aim of the study was to analyze the increase in body dimensions of post-weaning female Holstein Friesian (HF) calves fed with lactation cow concentrate with different levels of calf starter substitution. The material was 4 post-weaning female HF calves aged 4-5 months, with an average weight of 101.38 ± 14.21 kg. The feed consisted of elephant grass, calf starter (CS), and lactation cow concentrate (LCC). The study used a Latin square design, with 4 concentrate treatments, i.e. P1 (75% CS and 25% LCC), P2 (50% CS and 50% LCC), P3 (25% CS and 75% LCC), P4 (100% LCC); and 4 replications in 4 periods (each period in 1 month). The concentrate was given 1% BW in the dry matter; elephant grass and drinking water were provided in a measurable ad libitum. The research parameters were the increase in body dimensions (heart girth (HG), body length (BL), and withers height (WH)). The treatments had no significant effect (p0.05) on the increase in body dimensions, were P1 (HG = 2.31 cm/month, BL = 4.75 cm/month, WH = 1.95 cm/month), P2 (HG = 4.23 cm/month, BL = 4.38 cm/month, WH = 2.23 cm/month), P3 (HG = 4.60 cm/month, BL = 4.38 cm/month, WH = 2.35 cm/month), P4 (HG = 4,10 cm/month, BL = 3.48 cm/month, WH = 2.18 cm/month). It was concluded that with sufficient quality forage feed, giving 100% LCC to post-weaning female HF calves could result in an increase in body dimensions that was relatively the same as the substitution of CS (25-75%) in LCC as concentrate feed.Keywords: post-weaning female HF calves, body dimensions, calf starter, lactation cow concentrate