The effect of partial replacement of groundnut meal by white-fish meal in the diet of early-weaned calves

Abstract

Comparisons have been made of a calf early-weaning concentrate mixture in which 50% of the total nitrogen was derived from groundnut meal and a similar mixture having 33% of the nitrogen from groundnut and 19% from white-fish meal.In a feeding trial with 9 pairs of Aberdeen-Angus crossbred calves which were weaned at 3 weeks and then fed ad libitum, those given the ‘groundnut plus fish meal’ ration ate 4% less concentrate and gained 6 lb. more in weight over an 81-day period than their pair mates fed the ‘groundnut’ ration. Neither effect was significant.There were no differences between the two rations in their digestibility or their ability to promote nitrogen retention when food intake was equalised.