The unprofitableness in the industry of beef cattle husbandry is associated with the death of newborn calves during the colostral period (calves have insufficient immune protection, which can be obtained only with timely use of colostrum) due to imperfection in the housing technology or its individual elements. We have been conducted two experiments: the first one -on calves and cows of the second calving, and the second -on calves and cows of the third calving and older. At revealing of a problematic cow-calf pair (cow's refusal of the calf or calf's refusal to consume colostrum) in 2017 and 2018, a new technological housing element was introduced in the experimental groups of animals -transfer of the problematic cow-calf pair to a separate correction section, for common housing to stimulate cow's maternal instincts or the calf's eating behavior. According to the data of the first part of our experiment, it was found that the number of problem calves received from cows of the second calving in first group was 2 calves, in second and third group -1 calf each, respectively. The live weight of problem calves at birth between the three groups was not significant. According to this indicator, calves from the first group had lower live weight by 1.5 kg compared to animals from the second group and by 1 kg compared to animals from the third group. The problem calves, which were transferred together with the cows to separate correction sections, reached the highest live weight when weaned, compared with animals kept under traditional farming technology, the preference was 63.3 kg and 64.8 kg, respectively. In general, in the experimental group, which included the problem calves, the calves' live weight at weaning showed a significant difference between animals of first and third groups which amounted to 6.2 kg (P > 0.95). According to data from the second part of the experiment, which was carried out on cows of third calving and older cows with offsprings, three problem calves were identified in each group. With a slight difference in the live weight of problem calves at birth, the advantage in this indicator during weaning was in animals of the second and third groups, which were transferred to separate correction sections, which amounted to 62.0 kg and 63.5 kg. Overall, a significant difference of 3.1 kg (P > 0.95) was revealed in weight during the weaning between first and third groups of calves. It was found that at transference of problem "cow-calf" pair into a separate correction section the survival rate of problem calves increased from 33-50 % to 67-100 %. Thus, by transference of problem cow-calf pairs into separate correction sections during the colostral period with year-round free-range housing, it is possible to increase the survival rate of problem calves and ensure their full-value growth.
Improvement of technological elements of newborn calves keeping in beef cattle breeding.
In beef cattle breeding, unlike dairy farming, the only product is a calf. Therefore, the industry's competitiveness directly depends on the annual retention from each cow and heifer calf, the preservation of calves, and the high growth energy of young animal growth throughout the rearing period. These indicators are influenced by many factors, one of which is the breeding technology. The colostrum period is the most critical; newborn calves that do not receive adequate attention at the beginning of this period die within the first two days of life or have growth retardation. Given this, it becomes urgent to establish the level of dependence between young animals' growth and the technology of keeping cows and calves during the colostrum period. The studies were performed on cows and calves of the Aberdeen-Angus breed having problems in interaction during the colostrum period due to a weak maternal instinct in cows or a sucking reflex in calves (problem pairs' cow-calf). The growth rates of bull-calves and heifers were studied: live body weight, average daily gains, absolute gains, and multiplicity of live weight gain. The factor of a new technological element - the transfer of problem pairs' cow-calf into correction sections, in the colostrum period, on the further growth of young growth was analyzed. Our studies have shown a potential difference (P=0.999) between the live weight of bull-calves, which in the colostrum period were transferred together with the cows to the correction sections, and those for which no correction sections were used. The advantage in live weight at the age of 18 months is 27% and 28% (P=0.999) in favor of bull-calves that were transferred; they prevailed by 28% (P>0.999) in average daily gains, and by 28% and 29% (P=0.999) in absolute terms. When compared by live weight at the age of 18 months, the heifers, which had been transferred to correction sections during the colostrum period, had an advantage of 26%. The average daily and absolute gains in these heifers were 29% greater than the heifers, which were not transferred.
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