Average Daily Gain of Male Dairy Calf between Grazing and TMR System

Abstract

The objective of this project was to study an average daily gain (ADG) of dairy calf between grazing and TMR systems. Three treatments (T1–T3), three repetitions with three calves per treatment were set. T1: calves were fed total mixed ration (TMR) in free stall according to the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO), T2 and T3: calves of each group grazed Pakchong 1 and Muaklek napier grass+21% CP concentrate, respectively with two cycles of grazing, 30 days each. The ADG of all calves, dry matter yield and nutritive value of two napier grass cultivars and production costs were determined. At the end of the experiment, the ADG of the calves in the control group was higher than that showed in the two grazing groups (P < 0.05). Both types of napier grass produced a continuous and sufficient yield for the calves throughout the dry season. Pakchong 1 gave a higher dry matter yield than Muaklek in the first cycle of grazing (P < 0.05), whereas the yield was not different in the second one (P > 0.05). In both grazing cycles, Muaklek had better nutritive value than Pakchong 1. There were higher crude protein contents in leaf and stem of Muaklek than found in Pakchong 1 (P < 0.01). Overall, dairy calves raised by TMR system had lower production costs than grazing system supplemented with concentrate diets.