Assessment of the impact of feeding technology of black-and-white breed heifers on growth and development indicators during the dairy period

Avaliação do impacto da tecnologia de alimentação de novilhas de raça preto e branco nos indicadores de crescimento e desenvolvimento durante o período leiteiro

Abstract

Proper cultivation of heifers largely determines the optimal manifestation of the genetic productivity of animals. The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal technology for growing black-and-white heifers in the dairy period to realize the genetic potential in the conditions of the northern region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, namely the Kostanay region. To conduct experiments on the farm, two groups of heifers of 10 heads each were formed, immediately after their birth. The selected groups differed in feeding technologies: the control group received the diet adopted on the farm, the feeding technology was changed for the experimental group in order to increase the intensity of heifer growth. The live weight and linear body sizes of heifers were monitored monthly. The new technological scheme of cultivation for the experimental group of heifers included the rejection of dairy feed at the age of two months and the use of ViaCorn 4 starter compound feed, as well as the active use of juicy and coarse feeds, unlike the heifers of the control group who were fed dairy feed until the end of the dairy growing period (up to 6 months). The live weight, average daily gain and linear body sizes of heifers of the experimental group significantly exceeded similar indicators of peers of the control group. The superiority in average daily live weight gains over the heifers of the control group averaged 287.6 g over 6 months. The change in the technological scheme of feeding towards the rejection of dairy feeds at 2 months and the addition of a starter, as well as compliance with the technology of milking colostrum in newborn calves in the experimental group contributed to the better development of the axial and peripheral skeleton, chest organs of animals, which will create prerequisites for the formation of highly productive cows of a pronounced dairy type. The concentration of total protein in the blood of the heifers of the experimental groups at 2 months of age was higher than that of the control group peers by an average of 1.89 g/l and at the age of 6 months - by 3.37 g/l, which indicates a higher protein metabolism in the blood of the heifers of the experimental group.

Keywords:
black-and-white breed; feeding technology; blood protein; colostrum; forced drinking of colostrum; live weight gain; milk growing period