The Effect of Levels of Milk Replacer Feeding on the Performance of Brown Swiss Calves Raised in Eastern Turkey

The effects of three levels of milk replacer on growth performance of Brown Swiss calves (15 males and 15 females) were investigated in the study. The amount of daily milk replacer given to calves in the treatment groups was kept constant at 6, 7 and 8% of their birth weight. The calves were weaned at 35 days of age. The weaning weight, 4 and 6 months weights were, respectively 42.0 1.2, 93.5 4.3 and 142.0 6.3 kg for calves in 6% group, 42.6 1.2, 96.4 4.2 and 146.8 6.3 kg for those in 7% group and 45.4 1.2, 89.6 4.2 and 133.9 6.3 kg for young animals in 8% group. The weights were not significantly affected by the levels of the milk replacer. Levels of the milk replacer feeding did not affected significantly on the daily weight gains and gains in the body measurements in the pre- and post-weaning periods of the growth. Overall results of the study suggested that it could be possible to drop the level of milk replacer from 8 to 6% of birth weight without causing a detrimental influence on the growth characteristics of Brown Swiss calves.