Pressure Cooking versus Steam Processing and Flaking Sorghum Grain for Dairy Calves

Abstract

Fifty-five 3-day-old Holstein calves were individually penned and allotted to one of 5 rations: I) steam-processed flaked sorghum grain, soybean meal, II and III) pressure cooked sorghum grain, soybean meal, IV) pressure cooked sorghum grain, cottonseed meal pellets and V) equal parts by weight of pressure cooked sorghum grain and rolled barley plus soybean meal. Whole milk was fed for 30 days. Water, starter and loose alfalfa hay (except Group III received alfalfa pellets) were fed from 3 to 90 days of age. Average daily gains to 90 days, I to V (kg) : 0.57; 0.54; 0.58; 0.46; 0.57 and feed per unit gain: 2.57; 2.53; 2.56; 2.87; 2.78 were not different (P ã .05). Thirty-six calves were equally allotted to Rations I, II, and V and fed in the same manner except as the calves reached 40 days of age they were removed from individual pens, confined in 3 groups by treatment, and fed their respective rations to 90 days of age. Daily gains for I, II, and V were (kg): 0.68; 0,52; 0.59. Feed per unit gain was (kg) : 2.43; 2.77; 2.47. The value of pressure cooking may be similar to steam processing and flaking sorghum grain for dairy calves.