The effect of physical processing of diet on weaning age, dry matter intake and blood metabolites of dairy calves

Eighteen female, neonatal Brown Swiss calves (39.5±1.2Kg) were randomly divided into three treatment groups to investigate the effect of physical processing of diet on weaning age and some blood metabolites. Treatments were included: mash starter (M), pelleted starter (P) and heterogen of mixture moisturized, rolled barley and corn. (H). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous. There were no significant differences in weight gain, total intake of starter and feed efficiency. Weaning age and total intake of milk dry matter were higher in calves received treatment (M) than other treatments. Crud protein and organic matter digestibility were lower in treatment (M) than others, but there was no significant difference between treatment (P) and (H). Treatments had no effect on blood glucose content, but BUN concentrations was higher in treatment (M) than other treatments. Result of this experiment showed that feed pelleting and grain processing can reduce weaning age and milk intake in calves but, had no effect on feed intake and gain weight until end of weaning age.