Pasture for Young Dairy Calves

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted with 32 dairy calves to study the value of pasture. In the first experiment, 22 Holstein calves were divided into three groups: barn-fed, pasture, and pasture plus hay free choice. The average daily gains were 0.97, 1.14, and 1.10 lb., respectively, to 60 days of age and 1.46, 1.67, and 1.70 lb., respectively, from 60 to 116 days of age. The differences in average daily gain were not statistically significant. The pasture group consumed 98.4 lb. less grain and the pasture-hay group 107.0 lb. less grain than the barn-fed group.The results in the second experiment were similar to those in the first experiment, except that the Guernsey calves did not respond favorably.Observations indicated that the pasture-hay calves consumed hay throughout the experiment even when an adequate supply of lush pasture was available. Calves having access to hay had a firmer feces and smoother hair coat than calves not having access to hay. Calves on pasture were observed to ruminate earlier than calves reared in the barn. All fecal samples were negative for parasite ova and coccidial oocysts. There are indications that consideration should be given to pasture mixtures for calves.