Effect of Plant-Based Whole Milk Substitute on Calves' Growth Rate

Abstract

One of the tasks of animal husbandry is the development of methods for rearing young animals to obtain healthy calves with specified indicators of productivity and early insemination. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of a plant based whole milk substitute on the growth rate of calves. For the study, three groups of calves of eight heads each were formed according to the principle of analog pairs. The control group was fed with milk according to the scheme adopted on the farm, while the calves of the first and second experimental groups were given a plant based whole milk substitute. 10 mL of vegetable oil per head was added to the whole milk substitute for the first experimental group of calves and they were accustomed to starter compound feed. The average live weight of calves in groups at birth was within 38 kg. At 3 months of age, the weight of the calves of the control group exceeded the weight of the second experimental group by 2.5 kg but was less than the weight of the calves of the first experimental group by 8.3 kg. At the age of 6 months, the weight of calves of the first experimental group was 175.63 kg, which was more than in the control group by 5.13 kg and exceeded the second experimental group by 8.5 kg. With the beginning of receiving a plant based whole milk substitute, the calves' interest in compound feed increased; by the 20^th day, calves could eat up to 0.6-0.7 kg of the feed per day, bringing the increase in eating to the 45^th day up to 3 kg of compound feed.