A note on performance of Holstein Friesian veal calves raised to weaning individually or in groups

Abstract

Fourty-eight male Holstein-Friesian veal calves were raised from an average of 50 to a weaning weight of 93 kg, either tied individually, loose in groups of 4 , or in groups of 8. Three individually-fed and 9 group-fed calves died before weaning some of them due to intoxication by insecticides used in the barn. In the three treatments, each calf was provided with one nipple and 0 . 75 m' of space. All the individually fed calves were fed from the same container. Feeding was ad libitum on milk substitute offered at io p. ioo of the animals' body weight and the amount was adjusted each week to correspond to changes in calves weight. The percent of milk consumed of milk offered was similar for the three treatments (ranged from 86.o to 8 9 .op.ioo). However, feed conversion ratio was higher for calves raised individually (z.z6 TDN / weight gained), than for those reared in groups of 4 or 8 which had similar feed conversion ratios (r.6i and i. 5 i). Average daily gain was higher for calves raised in groups as compared to those raised individually, the difference of 0 . 23 kg with those raised in groups of 4 , being significant (P < 0 . 05 ) . Calves reared individually took almost three weeks longer to reach weaning weight than those reared in groups.