Effect of legume hay on the performance of suckling calves

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of suckling calves fed diets with and without legume hay. The experimental period was of 60 days, with solid food being offered ad libitum and available from the 10 th day of the life of the animal, and milk in natura restricted to 4 litres per day, divided into two equal meals. The following diets were evaluated: concentrated feed, concentrated feed and leucaena hay (Leucaena leucocephala Lam. De Wit) and concentrated feed with alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.). Fifteen Girolando animals were used, distributed over three treatments in an unbalanced random block design. The parameters under evaluation were: initial body weight (at birth - IBW), final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), wither height (HW), croup height (HC), thoracic perimeter (PT), dry matter intake (DMI) and feed conversion (FC). No difference was seen in animal performance in relation to the treatments, with averages of 32.9 (+/- 2.9) kg, 67.7 (+/- 1.2) kg, 0.58 (+/- 0.02) kg, 13.1 (+/- 0.5) cm, 13.7 (+/- 0.3) cm, 20.6 (+/- 0.7) cm, 0.46 (+/- 0.1) and 0.79 kg (+/- 0.1) for the parameters IBW, FBW, ADG, HW, HC, PT, DMI and FC respectively. The nutritional requirements of suckling calves are met by supplying milk and concentrated feed; there being no need to include legume hay in the diet.