1. Effects of Bedding Material Composition in Deep Litter Systems on Bedding Characteristics and Growth Performance of Limousin Calves
- Author
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J. Meng, F. H. Shi, Q. X. Meng, L. P. Ren, Z. M. Zhou, H. Wu, and L. P. Zhao
- Subjects
Bedding Systems ,Volatile Fatty Acids ,Serum Physico-chemical Parameters ,Ammonia-N ,Limousin Calves ,Animal culture ,SF1-1100 ,Animal biochemistry ,QP501-801 - Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different litter mixture compositions on bedding system temperature, pH and volatile fatty acid and ammonia-N (NH3-N) content, and the serum physico-chemical parameters and growth indices of calves. Thirty-two Limousin calves (280±20 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8 for each group) according to the bedding system used: i) control with soil only (CTR); ii) mixture with 50% paddy hulls (PH), 30% saw dusts (SD), 10% peat moss (PM) and 10% corn cobs (CC) (TRT1); iii) mixture with 15% PH, 15% SD, 10% PM, 40% CC, and 20% corn stover (CS) (TRT2); iv) mixture with 30% PH, 10% PM, 40% CC, and 20% CS (TRT3). The litter material combinations of different treatments were based on the cost of bedding system materials in China. The cost of four treatments from low to high: Control
- Published
- 2015
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