EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF TWO FORMS OF A B-VITAMIN AND CHOLINE BLEND ON THE PERFORMANCE OF HOLSTEIN CALVES DURING THE TRANSITION AND EARLY POSTWEANING PERIOD

摘要

An optimal dairy replacement raising system is crucial for optimizing milk production and profit of dairy farms. The replacement system should be developed with the objective of providing targeted management and nutrition to dairy heifers during the entire course of development to meet specific and objective goals. The transition from liquid to solid diets during weaning is often an impediment for maintaining nutrient balance and growth (Weary et al., 2008) while starter formulation and nutrient content are important during this phase. Postweaning growth needs to be optimized to take advantage of the high efficiencies of growth and lower cost per unit of weight gain that can be attained and thus attention should be given to strategies for maximizing the performance through the transition and postweaning period (Kertz et al., 1998).