Effect of the absence of dairy calves management on sundays on theirs performance up to six months of age

Vinte quatro bezerros mestiços Holandês x Zebu foram usados para comparar os seguintes tratamentos experimentais: 1) presença do tratador todos os dias da semana; 2) ausência do tratador aos domingos, com compensação na quantidade de leite oferecida (seis litros de leite integral aos sábados e às segundas-feiras); e 3) ausência do tratador aos domingos, sem compensação na quantidade de leite oferecida. Os bezerros receberam quatro litros de leite integral/animal/dia até as oito semanas de idade, quando foram abruptamente desaleitados. A partir da segunda semana de vida, receberam concentrado limitado em 2 kg/animal/dia. Conclui-se que: a ausência do tratador aos domingos não afetou o peso vivo (72,3 vs 71,7 kg) e o ganho de peso médio diário (479 vs 451 g/animal/dia) aos seis meses de idade e o consumo médio de concentrado durante as dez primeiras semanas de vida (784 vs 732 g/animal/dia); a compensação na quantidade oferecida de leite resultou em animais mais pesados ao desaleitamento (63,0 vs 58,2 kg), mas não aos seis meses de idade (114,3 vs 113,8 kg).Twenty-four Holstein x Zebu crossbred calves were used to compare the following experimental treatments: 1) calves management every day of the week, 2) absence of calves management on Sundays, with the compensation of the amount of milk fed (6 kg of whole milk given on Saturdays and on Mondays), and 3) absence of calves management on Sundays without the compensation of the amount of milk fed. Calves were fed 4 kg of whole milk/animal/day (except for treatment 2) up to 8 weeks of age when they were abruptly weaned. Starter was available to calves since the second week of age and limited to 2 kg/animal/day. It was concluded that: (a) the absence of calves management on Sundays did not affect body weight (72.3 vs 71.7 kg) and average daily weight gains (479 vs 451 g/animal/day) at six months of age, and average starter intake during the first ten weeks of age (784 vs 732 g/animal/day); (b) the compensation of the amount of milk fed resulted in heavier calves at weaning (63.0 vs 58.2 kg), but not at six month of age (114.3 vs 113.8 kg