INTAKE AND PERFORMANCE OF CROSSBRED DAIRY CALVES FED SPINELESS CACTUS IN TRANSITION

Abstract Text: A study was conducted to evaluate the intake and performance of crossbred calves ( Holstein x Zebu ) in the transition from a liquid diet to a solid diet fed spineless cactus replacing Tifton 85 hay. Sixteen crossbred calves with initial body weight of 50.04 ± 6.3 kg were used. Calves were housed in individual hutches, and suckled artificially with 4 L of milk x d^-1until 30 days of life. After completing 31 days the experimental period was initiated in which the calves began to receive the liquid diet in the same amount (4 liters) also solid foods according treatment. Treatments consisted of the replacement of Tifton 85 hay diet by spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, MILL) as follows: T1 (DPA): 70 % concentrate + 30 % Tifton hay, T2 (SPV): 70 % concentrate + 15 % Tifton hay + 15 % spineless cactus , T3 (STV): 70 % concentrate + 30 % spineless cactus, T4 (SCV): 50 % concentrate + 17% Tifton hay + 33 % spineless cactus. The experiment was analyzed as a completely randomized design with ANOVA being conducted with the GLS procedure of SAS and the averages compared by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. The DMI, BW, body measurements, body score and fecal score were performed weekly until 67 days of life. The DMI (0.48 kg x d^-1), final BW (55.9 kg), body measurements (wither height: 84.2 cm; hip height: 88.0 cm and heart girth: 88.4 cm) and body score (2.4) of the animals were not affected by treatments (P > 0.05). The average daily weight gain was influenced (P ˂ 0.01) by the treatments, the greatest gains were observed in the treatment SPV (421 g x d^-1), the DPA and SCV (388 g x d^-1) treatments were no longer different from other while the smaller ADG were obtained in treatment STV (289 g x d^-1). The fecal average scores observed during the entire experimental period shows that there was no incidence of diarrhea in animals. In conclusion the use of spineless cactus replacing the Tifton hay as roughage in the diet of crossbred calves in the transition phase from a liquid diet to a solid diet is indicated assisting in early weaning without affecting the growth and development of these animals.

Keywords: avegare daily gain; body score; body weight