Research trials on the growth rates of calves were performed by Nutrition and Lactation Physiologist Dr Jean Margerison, and others, of Massey University’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Palmerston North, New Zealand in 2006 and 2007. Each study is summarized below.
2006 Research Study
Sixty calves were selected at random and allocated according to sex, breed and live weight to one of three treatment groups in growth trials at Massey University’s research farms. All 3 groups were fed milk until weaning with two of the groups receiving X Factor in the first 18 days and QoC from day 19 onwards. All calves had unlimited access to water, straw and meal. Weights were monitored weekly, hip heights and widths measured, and weaning age recorded.
QOC gave the calves a better start to life
The calves that received QoC in their milk grew faster and weaned earlier. Furthermore they were more developed skeletally with greater hip width.
| 4L, milk only | 4L milk plus 200g QoC | |
| Average daily weight gains (g) | 648 | 755* |
| Average days to weaning | 79.2 | 70.6* |
| Mean hip width over 12 weeks (mm) | 18.7 | 19.5* |
*difference from milk only group is statistically significant
This study and its outcomes were presented at the 2007 American Dairy Science Conference in San Antonio, Texas and published in the Journal of Animal Science
For more information about this study download the conference abstract from the publications page or contact Bell-Booth.
2007 Research Study
38 Friesian calves of similar birth weight were housed in individual pens and offered an identical diet. All calves received 50g of X-Factor mixed with their daily milk ration from Day 1 – 18. From Day 19 until weaning 19 calves received 200g of QoC per day with their 4L milk ration. Weights were measured weekly, as was time to reach a weaning weight of 92kg. All animals had unlimited access to straw and meal and feed intake levels were measured.
QOC resulted in 10% higher daily live weight gains
The average growth rate with QoC was 704g per day over the milk feeding period. This is an additional 65g (10%) more than the calves not offered QoC which had a daily gain of 639g per day on average.
The graph below shows accelerated growth pattern from the inclusion of QoC.
They weaned 8 days earlier
Calves on the QoC programme reached the target weaning weight in 75 days on average. Calves on an identical diet, minus QoC, took 8 days longer to reach the target weaning weight.
| Milk only | Milk plus 200g QoC | |
| Milk feeding period (days) | 83.5 | 75.0* |
| Average daily weight gains (g) | 639 | 704* |
*difference is statistically significant
Less feed required with QoC
The calves on QoC reached the target weaning weight earlier and as a result they consumed 16% less hard feed (straw and meal) and 31 litres less milk than the control calves. This amounts to half a bag of calf pellets and approx $20 of milk staying in the vat (for a payout of $7.50 per kg milk solids).
| Milk only | Milk plus 200g QoC | |
| Total milk used (L) | 333.0 | 302.1 |
| Pellet intake over the milk period (kg) | 68.3 | 56.9* |
*difference is statistically significant
Bigger framed calves
The QoC Nutrition Programme resulted in significantly greater hip width. For calves on the programme the hip width gain from 3 weeks to 12 weeks was 7.4mm compared with 6.1mm for the untreated calves.
| Milk only | Milk plus 200g QoC | |
| Average hip width gain for 3 to 12 weeks (mm) | 6.1 | 7.4* |
| Average daily gain (mm/d) | 0.63 | 0.78 |
*difference is statistically significant
This study will be presented at the 2011 American Dairy Science Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, along with outcomes from a study on the animals as heifers in 2010 Click here for details
