Researches on using cottonseed in calf nutrition

This study aim to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of whole cottonseed as a replacement of calf starter feed on body weight gain, feed intake of the dairy calves, and evaluate the in vitro gas production levels, gas production parameters, digestibility of organic materials and the metabolic energy levels of the rations. In the study thirtysix female holstein calves who calved from second lactation cows used. All calves randomly seperated into the three group as a 12 head, and they housed individually during the study. Calves received 6 liters colostrum in the first day, and the second day they moved to milk replacer. As an addition to replacer feeding first group calves received %100 calf starter feed, second group received %90 calf starter feed + %10 cottonseed and third group received %80 calf starter feed +%20 cottonseed. No forage offered to the calves and they always had access to clean drinkable water. Weekly body weights and daily feed intakes are recorded. In the end of the weaning body weight of the group 1,2 and 3 is respectively, 67.88 kg, 68.13 kg, 67,87 kg; avarage daily gain of the group 1,2 and 3 is respectively, 535.27 g, 534.52 g, 530.36 g; and feed effieciency of the group 1,2 and 3 is respectively 0.541, 0,540, 0,536 .In the end of the trial there were no significant differences in body weight, avarage daily gain and feed intakes between groups (P>0.05).