Effect of level of milk feeding and type of housing on the performance of crossbred calves (Bos taurus X Bos indicus) and Zebu calves (Bos indicus)

The performance of 40 crossbred calves (Bos taurus, Friesian X Bos indicus, Boran) and 40 Zebu (Boran) calves, from live days after birth to 12 weeks of age, in two separate experiments, was evaluated regarding the effects of two levels of milk (2 or 3 L day-1) and two types of housing (barn (indoors) or hutch (outside)) on intake of a complete supplement, weaning age and weight, live weight, and average daily gain. Calves were weaned when supplement intake attained 450 g day-1. There were no significant treatment effects on supplement intake of Zebu calves, and they were weaned after 11 weeks. Feeding 3 L of milk and keeping cross-bred calves outside (in hutches) reduced significantly (P 0.05) on live weights of crossbred calves