Performance of calves on diets containing Amaranthus leaf meal

Experiments were conducted to compare leaf meal of Amaranthus hy bridus sub-species hy bridus (Green Head) with lucerne meal and to study the effect of including up to 40% leaf meal of the same species of Amaranthus in calf rations. Fourteen concentrate diets calculated to be iso-caloric (75% TDN) and iso-nitrogenous (18% CP) were each given ad libitum to four Friesian calves from Day 11 to Day 56 post partum. Whole milk was also given at the rate of 4 l per calf per day. The first seven diets (Experiment I) contained 0, 5, 10 and 15% of either Amaranthus meal or lucerne meal. The rest (Experiment II) contained 0, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40% of Amaranthus leaf meal.Liveweight gains were similar on all the diets within each experiment and averaged about 0.5 and 0.4 kg/day in Experiments I and II, respectively. This was attributed to identical nutrient intake and efficiency of feed utilization. The relationship between oxalate intake, its disappearance in the gastro-intestinal tract of the experimental calves and apparent dietary calcium availability did not cause any appreciable differences in the performance of the experimental calves. Blood calcium levels of all the calves were within the normal range (9–12 mg/100 ml) during both trials.It is concluded that Amaranthus leaf meal is of comparable feeding value to lucerne meal in calf early weaner diets and that dairy calves perform well when given diets containing up to 40% leaf meal of Amaranthus.