UN SDG
Livestock Studies 1972, Vol 12, Num, 3     (Pages: 003-021)
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Raising Native and Jersey x Native crossbred male calves for veal production

Orhan ALPAN ,Halil AKÇAPINAR

- In the eastern section of the Black Sea region the land available for cutivation is limited and is divided into small lots. There is deficiency of forage and feed production in the area and the growth rate of calves is unsatisfactory. As a result of these factors the newborn male calves are generally slaughtered within first weeks of their lives. How ever a grading up project bas been under effect since 1959 in the Black Sea region and crossbred calves are somewhat larger in size than natives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibilities of rearing native and crossbred male calves for veal production using milk replacers.

The material of the experiment consisted of 36 male calves with 12 calves in each of Native, cross bder (F1) and first backcross (G1) genotype groups. The genotype groups were subduvuded into two as one sub group were given 1 : 9 ratio of milk replacer and water while the other 1 : 6 non fat dry milk constituter 75 % of the milk replacer. The calves were about ten days of age at the start of experiment and the ration was gradually changed from whole milk to milk replacer within ten days. The calves had free choice of calf starter and clover hay before them. Milk replacer feeding was stopped by the end of 12 th week and 1 : 6 milk replacer calves were slaughtered while 1 : 9 calves were continued on calf starter and hay to 24 th week of the experiment and then slaughtered.The starting body weight of the calves averaged 18.3 kg. The mean body weight reached to 60.5 kg with a weight gain of 42.2 kg within 12 weeks. The body weight gain of F1 group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the others. In the second 12 week period the average daily gain was 614 g. The average dressing percentages were 50.5 and 48.6 % and bone to carcass ratios were 23.8 and 19.1 % for the first and second slaughtering periods.

It was concluded that the Native and crossbred male calves would be economically raised for veal in the eastern Black Sea region using milk replacers or skimmilk and providing a dependable market to utilize the quality veal by worth price. Keywords :