Effect of restricted milk feeding on the performance of crossbred calves

An experiment was conducted with 18 crossbred calves below one week of age for 150 days to assess the effect of restricted milk feeding on the performance of cross bred calves. Calves divided into three equal groups were fed whole milk either up to 12 (G₁), 8(G₂) or 4 weeks (G₃) of age respectively at the rate of 1/10^th of their BW from first to six weeks, 1/15^th of BW from seven to eight weeks and 1/20^th of BW from nine to twelve weeks of age. Calf starter and good quality green grass were offered to all the calves. There was no significant difference in body weight gain, daily DM consumption and feed conversion efficiency between the three groups. It was inferred that cross bred calves could be successfully weaned from milk as early as four weeks of age without any adverse effect on their growth performance.