Growth and survival of Holstein and Brown Swiss calves reared outdoors in individual hutches

Ertugrul O., Alpan O., Unal N., Azeroglu F.

TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION, cilt.32, sa.4, ss.257-266, 2000 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 32 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2000
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1023/a:1005235704690
  • Dergi Adı: TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.257-266
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: breed, calves, climate, live weight, management, mortality, outdoor rearing, SUPPLEMENTAL SHADE, DAIRY CALVES
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The effects of outdoor raising of Brown Swiss and Holstein replacement calves in individual hutches were studied on a farm having northern Mediterranean climatic conditions. A total of 240 female calves was used with 30 calves of each breed and born in each of the four seasons. The animals were kept for 3 months in individual hutches and then in groups of 10 until 6 months of age. The birth weights of the Brown Swiss and Holstein calves were 37.2 +/- 0.21 and 37.9 +/- 0.22, respectively. The average birth weights were highest in spring and lowest in winter. Breed and seasonal effects were evident at 6 months. The live weights for the two breeds at 6 months were 114.1 +/- 1.3 and 126.3 +/- 1.5 kg, respectively. The numbers of health disorders were significantly higher in the first month of life. Mortalities occurred in the following months, being 2.5% in Holsteins and 5% in Brown Swiss by 6 months of age. The results indicated that calves can be reared outdoors successfully.