Studies in the Growth and Nutrition of Dairy Calves: VIII. Raising Dairy Heifers by Means of the Self-Feeder

Abstract

Summary From this trial with a self-feeder in the raising of dairy heifers it is probable that the following suggestions may be made: 1. There is little difference in the feed cost of raising heifers to two years of age by the self-feeder method or by hand feeding where a liberal grain allowance is given. 2. The feed cost per pound of gain is lower with the self-fed heifers. 3. The heifers raised with the self-feeder will show the greater increases in live weights, height at withers, depth of chest and width. 4. The greatest relative increase will be in the live weight and though the skeletal measurements mentioned do show a true increase, this is further augmented by extra fleshing. 5. With self-fed heifers the extra conditioning may tend to delay breeding, or perhaps impair their breeding powers. 6. Ground oats and wheat bran are not palatable to heifers. 7. When the heifers are on a milk ration, whole corn is the grain consumed in greatest quantities; cracked corn and whole oats being used but little. 8. After weaning, and when under summer conditions, the consumption of cracked corn increased while that of whole corn decreased. 9. When the heifers were under winter conditions, after they were a year old, cracked corn and whole oats were apparently the most palatable grains. 10. Linseed oil meal was evidently a palatable supplement though the quantities of it consumed varied from time to time. 11. Salt was consumed regularly. The largest amounts were used when pasture was available.