Utilization of Local Agricultural Products and By-Products for The Improvement of Calf Starter Ration in Malaysia

Tropical agriculture research series : proceedings of a symposium on tropical agriculture researches
ISSN 03889386
書誌レコードID(総合目録DB) AA00870529
本文フルテキスト
Dairy calves in Malaysia which are exposed to severe malnutrition, infectious diseases and harsh climatic conditions, show very high morbidity and mortality rates before weaning. Their daily weight gains are less than 0.2 kg and their nursing period exceeds six months.
Experiments were conducted to develop a calf starter ration (CSR) composed of local agricultural products and by-products for the purpose of shortening the nursing period and getting the calf accustomed to highly nutritious solid food from the early stage of growth. Cross-bred calves (lndian x European breed) were used and fed whole milk, experimental feeds i.e. CSRs (DCP 19%, TDN 75%) and green Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum).
In the first trial, weight gains of calves fed CSRs which were composed of 40% of maize and imported feed materials, were compared to those of calves fed CSRs made of 45% and 30% of ground cassava chips and local feed materials except for soybean meal. The performance of calves fed CSRs including cassava was similar to that of animals fed CSR to which maize had been added. It was possible to prepare local CSR using cassava chips as the main energy source.
In the second trial, to reduce the use of costly imported soybean meal, the utilization of groundnut meal replacing soybean meal in CSR was evaluated. Three groups of calves fed CSRs composed of local feed materials to which 20% of soybean meal, 20% and 10% of groundnut meals respectively had been added were compared. There were no significant differences in the growth rate among the three groups. It was possible to prepare local CSRs using groundnut meal as the main protein source.
Malaysian calves could be weaned at the age of 10 weeks and gain 0.4 kg per day, by feeding on whole milk, locally made CSR and green Napier grass.
It is concluded that local feed resources available in Malaysia which were used in these experiments can be useful for formulating CSR. However, when large amounts of cassava chips or groundnut meal are used, it would be advisable to maintain a certain safety level to prevent possible hazard of contamination with linamalin or aflatoxin contained in the diet.
刊行年月日
作成者 Eitaro Imaizumi
公開者 Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
18
開始ページ 119
終了ページ 131
言語 eng

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