Indigestion in Young Calves. V. The Influence of Grass Silage and Fine Hay |
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| Authors: | B Laksesela Ommundsen T Landserk |
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| Institution: | 17.The Department of Animal Husbandry and Genetics, Veterinary College of Norway, P.O. Box 8146, Oslo Dep., Oslo 1, Norway ;27.The Department of Internal Medicine I, Veterinary College of Norway, Oslo 1, Norway ;37.The National Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway |
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| Abstract: | In an experiment with 24 young calves, lasting 45 days, all were fed a high lactose milk replacer causing some diarrhoea. Eight calves received grass silage and 8 fine hay in addition, while 8 received no solid supplement to the milk replacer (NS). Somewhat more (P < 0.05) dry matter was ingested from silage than hay. Weight gain was similar on the 2 supplements and much greater (P < 0.001) than on NS. Both silage and fine hay reduced (P < 0.01) the frequency of diarrhoea, approximately to the same extent. Further, silage or hay gave higher pH (P = 6.0.01 and 0.02, respectively) and less gram positive cocci and rods in the rumen fluid, better developed ruminai papillae and heavier (P < 0.01) empty reticulo-rumens than NS. Some calves fed silage had ulcers in the rumen, the same having occurred on fine hay in earlier experiments, but not in the present one. Althogether, the 2 roughages gave very similar results. |
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| Keywords: | silage fine hay indigestion calves |
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