Feeding of replacement heifers during the rearing in the preweaning period

Abstract

A rational system of rearing young animals taking into account the biological characteristics of animals should contribute to normal growth, development, formation of high productivity and a strong constitution, prolonging the terms of economic use of livestock. The purpose of the research was to analyze the rearing of replacement heifers during the preweaning period when using bentonite clay as a mineral supplement in diets. Three groups of heifers were formed to conduct research. Bentonite was introduced into the diet of the heifers of the 1st experimental group at the rate of 1 % of the compound feed composition, the heifers of the 2nd experimental group were input with 2 % bentonite into the compound feed, and the heifers of the control group did not receive bentonite. In the course of research an analysis of the infl uence of bentonite on the growth and development of heifers of Black-and-White breed up to 6 months of age in the winter period of their rearing was given. The feeding diets of heifers from birth to 6 months of age monthly were presented in the paper. It was found as a result that bentonite introduced into the diet of animals of experimental groups allowed to increase the digestibility and accessibility of nutrients in the diets. Thus, the coeffi cient of digestibility of dry matter in the heifers of the control group was lower compared with the herdmates of the 2nd experimental group by 2,02 abs.%. The organic matter of the animals of the control group digested less compared to the 1st experimental group by 0,29 abs.%, and from the 2nd group by 2,17 abs.% The coeffi cient of digestibility of crude protein in the 1st experimental group was by 0,65 abs.% less, and in the 2nd experimental group 1,63 abs.% (p < 0,05) more than in the control.