Table 3.
Performance responses during a 42-d preconditioning program of beef calves receiving BAS (n = 40) or CON (n= 40) on the day of weaning (day 0)1
| Item | CON | BAS | SEM | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weaning age | 233 | 234 | 2 | 0.81 |
| Growth parameters2 | ||||
| Initial BW (day 0), kg | 184.8 | 185.1 | 3.6 | 0.95 |
| Final BW (day 42), kg | 228.4 | 230.6 | 4.2 | 0.71 |
| ADG, kg/d | 1.04 | 1.08 | 0.05 | 0.57 |
| TMR intake (dry matter),3 kg/d | 6.43 | 6.45 | 0.10 | 0.94 |
| G:F,4 g/kg | 157 | 165 | 6.7 | 0.45 |
1Calves individually received 5 mL of a BAS (IRSEA Group, Quartier Salignan, France) or CON (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether) on day 0. Treatments (5 mL) were applied topically to the nuchal skin area of each animal.
2Calf initial and final BW were calculated, respectively, according to the average of two BW recorded on day 0, and the average of BW recorded on days 42 and 43. ADG was calculated using the initial and final BW.
3Calves received a TMR for ad libitum consumption from day 0 to 42. Feed intake was recorded daily from day 0 to 42 by measuring offer and refusals from each pen, divided by the number of calves within each pen, and expressed as kg per calf/d.
4G:F was calculated using total BW gain (in grams) and total TMR intake (kg of dry matter) of each pen during the experimental period.