Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, cilt.8, sa.10, ss.1439-1442, 2005 (Scopus)
The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of different type of calf hutches on growing performance and housing expenses of Holstein calves. Twenty five female calves born from February 2003 to April 2003 in Agricultural Faculty Farm, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey were used in the experiment. Birth weights for new material, Fiberglas and double layer tin-plate groups were 36.61?1.57, 36.44?1.19 and 34.81?1.70, respectively. The daily weight gain averages for the tint material, Fiberglas and double layer tin-plate groups were found 367.68?31.49, 319.22?27.69, 294.43?21.64 g d-1, respectively. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant (P<0.05) for calf hutches groups. All calves were kept together with their mothers for the first 3 days after calving and then were housed in individual pens in calf hutches. All calves were fed whole milk via pail twice a day according to the feeding programme, in which each calve received 245 litre feed during 10 weeks period in total. Calves were also received a commercial calf grower and alfalfa straw ad libitum from first week of the trial to the weaning. Fresh water were supplied to the calves ad libitum in pail after consuming their liquid feeds. The results obtained in the experiment showed that there were no differences in daily gain, conversion and weaning weight (P>0.01). New type hutch housing compared to fiberglas or double layer tin-plate groups in respect to calf performances but housing expenses was the lowest group for new material hutch type.