The effect of the proportion of roughage in the diet, diethylstilboestrol implantation and space allowance on the performance of Israeli-Friesian intact male calves

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Abstract
SUMMARY The effects of the proportion of hay in the diet (18 or 40%), implantation of diethylstilboestrol and the type of housing on the performance of male calves was examined over the growth period from 250 to 500 kg live weight in a 2×2×2 factorial experiment. The dry-matter consumption per 100 kg of live weight was lower and the live-weight gain and efficiency of conversion of crude metabolizable energy was higher with the diet containing 18% of hay than with that containing 40%. Diethylstilboestrol implantation had only a small effect on performance. Animals that were allowed yard space in addition to pens gained less rapidly, were less efficient in the conversion of energy into live weight, and were somewhat leaner, than those restricted to pens.