Effects of application of vitamin-mineral supplement in milk on performances of Holstein suckling calves

Abstract

Roumak Extra (RE) supplement was prepared from Soha Aghrin Tech Co (Tehran, Iran). Material and method: At day of birth, thirty Holstein suckling calves were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 10 calves in each group from 3 through to 60 days of age. Treatments were: (1) CON (no additives), (2) LMV (addition of 15 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk), (3) HMV (addition of 25 grams of RE supplement per liter of milk). Whole milk was fed to calves at two meals at 09:00 and 17:00. In all treatments same starter (20% protein and 3.3 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy) were fed to calves. Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the experiment. Whole milk was fed to calves at two meals at 09:00 and 17:00. Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the experiment. Data were analyzed by mixed procedures of SAS (9.1) software. Treatments had no effect on body weight changes and daily weight gain of calves (P˃0.05). Calves fed vitamin-mineral supplement (LMV and HMV) consumed less starter than CON calves (p <0.05). Also, the length of starter intake in the CON group was higher than the LMV and HMV calves (p <0.05). Dry matter digestibility increased (P˂0.05) in LMV and HMV in compared to CON group. Conclusion: Conclusion: Conclusion: The final weight and daily weight gain of the calves on supplemented treatments were same with control group indicating an improvement in the feed conversion ratio and nutrients digestibility.