THE EFFECT OF WEANING AGE ON THE POST-WEANING PERFORMANCE OF ARTIFICIALLY REARED CROSS-BRED ( KENANA X FRIESIAN )CALVES IN THE GEZIRA

Abstract

THE EFFECT OF WEANING AGE ON THE POST-WEANING PERFORMANCE OF ARTIFICIALLY REARED CROSS-BRED ( KENANA X FRIESIAN )CALVES IN THE GEZIRA. 

B. A.BABlKER,F.A. AHMED AND H.A.M.ELHAG ,Department of Animal Science. Favult y of Agricultural Sciences, University 0f Gczira; P.O.Box 20, Wad Medani 

SUMMARY 

Four groups of Kenana X Friesian cross- bred calves were weaned at 6,8,l0 
and l2 weeks of age.Concentrate starters and supplemmts based on agro 
industrial by-products together with forage sorghum was offered ad libiturn 
in the postwea- ning period from l2 to 26 weeks of age. The total dry 
matter, supplement , forage and liveweight gains were measured during 
this p:riod. Feed conversion ratio was calculated. No significant difference 
in total dry matter intake was observed. Calves weaned at 12 weeks of age 
had a significantly (P < 0.01) higher supplement intake than th: early 
weaned ones. Early weaned calves consumed more forage than late 
weaned calves. A highly significant (P < 0.001) liveweight gain and feed 
conversion ratio was shown by the six - week weaned calves. The results 
suggest that an early weaning system could be successfully adopted with a 
favourable post ~ weaning performance.