Complete Rations for Growing Dairy Replacements Utilizing By-Product Feedstuffs1,2

Abstract

Four experiments utilized by-product fiber sources (either sugarcane bagasse pellets or cottonseed hulls) for calves (0 to 84 days), young heifers (80 to 180 days), or yearling heifers (300 to 650 days). Complete starters with sugarcane bagasse pellets (15%) were not as effective for growth of young calves as 15% cottonseed hulls had been in previous experiments. Complete rations with 40 or 55% cottonseed hulls gave excellent and equal gains from 80 to 180 days of age at either 10.0 or 12.5% protein (air-dry ration) and with or without .89% urea. In a third experiment comparing rations with 73 or 83% sugarcane bagasse, performance from 300 to 600 days of age was inadequate with 83% but near optimum (.60 kg gain/day for Holsteins, .50 kg/day for Jerseys) with 73% when supplemented with soybean meal. With urea (2.5, 2.0, or 1.0%), gains were reduced. In a second experiment with yearling heifers consuming high-sugarcane bagasse rations (70%), condensed molasses solubles from rum distilling were utilized well at 10%. Attempts to force feed larger amounts via lick-wheel feeders while restricting dry feed intake slightly reduced gains and feed efficiency. Feeding of mastitic milk to young calves also was evaluated in Experiment 1. Growth was equal to feeding whole milk (some colostrum included), and incidence of mastitis or blind quarters in these heifers when they calved 2 yr later was no higher.