A High Roughage System for Raising Calves Based on Early Development of Rumen Function. VI. Influence of Hay to Grain Ratio on Calf Performance, Rumen Development, and Certain Blood Changes

Determining optimum age of Holstein dairy calves when adding chopped alfalfa hay to meal starter diets based on measures of growth and performance

“…For instance, Klein et al (1987) reported meal alfalfa provided in pelleted pre-starter ration increased intake and BW throughout the experiment, similar to the present study. Present results are not, however, in agreement with report by Hibbs et al (1956) who noted that by adding chopped forage to diet, ADG declined. Over three consecutive reports, Hill et al (2008Hill et al ( , 2009Hill et al ( and 2010 noted that calves, fed by increasing percentages of hay in the starter (texturized), linearly reduced feed intake of starter, ADG and feed efficiency.…”

“…Beharka et al (1998) who fed 25% AH with different particle sizes reported a decrease in ruminal pH with age of calf, regardless of the fiber level in the diet. Diets without roughages caused a decrease in rumen pH, which is caused by a lack of rumination and saliva flow into the rumen (Hibbs et al, 1956;Kellaway et al, 1977;van Ackeren et al, 2009). There were no significant differences between AH groups and CON calves at weeks 4 and 6 that may indicate that buffering of the rumen by AH may have become apparent after week 6; however, with increasing age, mean ruminal pH was greater at weeks 8 and 10 (P < 0.05 for both) for the calves fed AH diets than the calves fed CON diet.…”

“…Others have observed, however, a negative impact on the consumption of starter diets upon inclusion of forage (e.g. Hibbs et al, 1956). Furthermore, forage quality could affect calf's performance and adding straw decreased starter intake and ADG (Morrill and Dayton, 1981).…”

“…With inadequate dietary roughage, rumen papillae can remain small and rumen volume is depressed (Nocek et al, 1980). Several investigators noted that inclusion of forage in calf diets increased starter intake (Kincaid, 1980;Thomas and Hinks, 1982) and average daily gain (ADG; Anderson et al, 1982), as well as improved feed efficiency (Hibbs et al, 1956;Kincaid, 1980;Coverdale et al, 2004), although in some of the studies improved performance may have been confounded by the lack of measurement on gut fill. Furthermore, Khan et al, 2012 reported that adding alfalfa in textural starter diets pre-weaning did not reduce growth but did affect how calves grew.…”

Effect of Diets on Growth and Development of Early Weaned Holstein-Friesian Calves

“…There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in consumption of pellets or growth rate to 8 weeks of age, or in feed consumption and growth rate from 0 to 120 days of age.…”