TABLE 2.
Effects of the starter feeding supplementation in the preweaning period on the growth performance and development of rumen in yak calves.
| Treatment1 |
SEM | P-value | |||
| Items | RA | RAS | |||
| Growth performance | Body weight (kg) | 72.07 ± 2.47 | 80.58 ± 1.26 | 1.38 | < 0.001 |
| Body length (cm) | 90.80 ± 3.63 | 93.80 ± 1.92 | 1.34 | 0.141 | |
| Body height (cm) | 76.33 ± 2.08 | 81.25 ± 0.96 | 1.20 | 0.008 | |
| Chest girth (cm) | 104.80 ± 2.68 | 116.40 ± 2.61 | 2.22 | < 0.001 | |
| DMI (g) | 608.36 ± 60.68 | 678.71 ± 6.53 | 17.04 | 0.033 | |
| Rumen weight | Rumen (g) | 1.07 ± 0.07 | 1.17 ± 0.04 | 0.23 | 0.036 |
| Rumen index, expressed as kg of organ/kg of BW | Rumen (×10–2) | 1.47 ± 0.08 | 1.56 ± 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.221 |
1The alfalfa (RA) was fed with the milk replacer and alfalfa hay, the alfalfa hay and starter (RAS) group was fed with milk replacer, alfalfa hay and the starter.