Abstract
Milk replacers in which skim milk protein (SMP) was replaced in various proportions by undried or dried fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) were offered twice daily to British Friesian male calves. Various proportions of fish protein and milk protein in the diets were obtained by mixing replacer made from SMP with replacers made from undried and dried FPH respectively. The ratios were: 100 FPH, 0 SMP; 67 FPH, 33 SMP; 33 FPH, 67 SMP; and 0 FPH, 100 SMP. Calves were offered the milk replacers only to a maximum of 5 1 per day until 28 days when concentrates and hay were offered ad libitum. The calves were weaned after 42 days. Feed intake and live-weight gain were recorded for 84 days. There was a marked decrease in performance to weaning when the milk replacer contained two-thirds or more of the FPH. The FPH-fed calves had lower hay intakes than those fed milk only. Treatment differences in post-weaning live-weight gain reflected mainly differences in concentrate intake. There was no significant difference in live-weight gain nor food efficiency for calves fed either undried or dried FPH in any period to 84 days. The number of treatments for scour was similar for the two groups. However, the calves fed dried FPH had a lower dry-matter intake in the post-weaning period.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 191-198 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Animal production |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Print publication - Apr 1979 |