The Effects of Milk Supplement (Roumak Extra) on Performance, Nutritonal and Non-Nutritional Behavior of Holstein Suckling Calves

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of milk supplementation (Roumak Extra) on performance of infant Holstein calves. Roumak Extra supplement was prepared from Soha Aghrin Tech Co. which consists of vitamins (water soluble and fat soluble), Micro minerals and probiotics. The average birth weight of calves was 36.76 ± 5.80 kg. Each treatment consisted of 10 calves which were examined in individual boxes for 60 days (4 periods of 15-day). This research was carried out in a completely randomized design with three treatments as follows: 1-control treatment without supplementation of Roumak Extra 2- Treatment A by adding15 grams Roumak Extra supplement per liter of milk 3- Treatment B with the addition of 25 grams Roumak Extra supplement per liter of milk. Whole milk was fed to calves at two meal at 900 and 1700. Starter were identical in terms of crude protein (%20) and Metabolizable energy (3.3 Mcal/kg). Calves had free access to starter and water from the beginning of the plan. All data were analyzed by Mixed procedures of SAS software. Body weight changes and daily gain were not significant between the supplemental calves and the control group (P˃0.05). Consumption of starter was significantly higher in control group when compared with supplement recieved treatments (P<0.05). Dry matter digestibility increased in supplemented treatments when compared to control group (P<0.05). However, feed conversion ratio were improved in supplemented treatments (P<0.05). Roumak Extra supplementation has no significant effect on water and straw consumption time (P˃0.05). However, here is no significant difference between treatments in terms of lying, standing and ruminating time (P˃0.05). However, the time of starter consumption was higher in control group when compared with supplemented treatments (P<0.05). Blood concentration of albumin, glucose and betahydroxybutyrate were not affected by supplementation (P˃0.05). But, blood total protein and urea concentration was higher in control group when compared with supplement received calves. The effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation of Roumak Extra on the growth of the skeletal system (round the chest, widther height and loin height) was also were not significant between treatments (P˃0.05). In general, despite the decrease in feed intake and the time spent on it in supplement received calves in this experiment, due to higher dry matter digestibility and improvement in feed conversion ratio, the final weight and daily weight gain of the receiving calves on supplemented were same as control group representing an improvement in calves' performance.