@article {3672,
	title = {Factors affecting early concentrate uptake by calves},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {80},
	year = {2020},
	month = {09/2020},
	pages = {95-100},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Early solid food intake is key to a successful early rumen development system. In NZ, specialist bull-calf rearers tend to feed
four-day-old calves restricted milk, ad lib pellets and wean early (5 to 6 weeks). A range of experiments examined the effect of
protein \%, feed form and the effect of changing protein source in older calves. There was no difference between 16\% and 20\%
protein pellets in the first three weeks but between weeks three and six, feed intakes and liveweight gains were higher on 20\%
protein pellets (P<0.05). Weaning live weights were higher on a customised pellet (51.5\% maize, 20.0\% peas, 20.0\% soy bean
extract 48, 5\% molasses, 1.5\% limestone, 1.0\% soybean oil, 0.8\% salt, calf vitamin mineral premix (0.01\%), Bovatec (0.006\%)
and Rumasweet palatant (0.00002\%)) than on a commercial pellet (68.9 vs 64.8 kg, P<0.05). Feeding the customised formulation
either in roller-milled, hammer-milled or pelleted form did not affect feed intake or liveweight gain. In weaned calves welladjusted
to consuming concentrates, substituting a commercial meal with palm kernel significantly reduced feed intake when fed
at 60\% of the ration whilst copra meal substitution significantly reduced intake at 40\% in calves accustomed to eating pellets.
Pellet composition had a greater impact on feed intakes and growth rate than did the form in which the feed was offered.
Keywords: calf; copra meal; palm kernel; protein content; artificially reared},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Muir PD and Thomson BC and Smith NB}
}
