ANN 121: Applied Animal Nutrition-I (2+1)

CALF STARTER

• It is a solid feed consisting of ground grains, oil cakes, animal protein supplements and brans fortified with vitamins, minerals and antibiotic feed supplements. It should contain 23-26 % crude protein and 75% Total Digestible Nutrients.
• A calf needs a relatively large proportion of protein in its ration so as to furnish the basic building blocks (aminoacids) for the rapid growth of its tissues.
• The proportion of protein in the ration should be less as the animal grows older.
• The quality of protein given to the calf depends on the age of the calf. Since the rumen is not developed, the protein in the calf ration should be of high biological value (till the rumen develops calves can be fed with animal proteins also).
• A standard calf starter is offered from 10^th day of age to supplement the nutrients when they are raised on limited milk intake.

• About 20-25 % DCP should be supplied through an animal protein source or skim milk powder for balancing the essential aminoacid requirement of pre ruminant calves which are not able to synthesize them due to their non functional rumino-reticulum.

Ingredients	I	II	III	IV	V
Crushed Maize	-	-	-	50	50
Crushed Barley	50	50	50	-	-
Groundnutcake/Til cake	20	20	20	20	20
Wheat bran/Rice bran	10	10	10	10	10
Fishmeal/Meat meal/Skim milk powder	20	20	20	20	20

• To each 100 kg of above mixture, 5-10 kg of molasses, 10 g vitamin supplement, 500 g salt, 2 kg mineral mixture and 20 g antibiotic mixture should be mixed thoroughly.