ABSTRACT:The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of starter diet containing 10% of treated rape cake (TRC) with a reduced glucosinolate content on calf growth, development and health. The experiment included 45 calves allocated into 3 groups. After the colostrum period (5 days) the calves were fed 4 l of pooled fresh milk per calf/day and one of the starters ad libitum. The control group (S) was fed Standard starter with components with a standard nutrient content including fibre. Comparative group T was fed Telstar starter, which contained whole maize kernels and protein pellets. Experimental group G was fed Grant starter containing 10% of treated rape cake. The calves were fed hay ad libitum from 10 weeks of age. The average starter consumption (calf/day) over a 90-day feeding period was 1.34, 1.72 and 1.45 kg of the Standard, Telstar and Grant diet, respectively. An insignificantly higher body weight of calves was recorded for the Grant group at the end of the experimental period. When the calculated indices were compared, it was obvious that the weight gains obtained with experimental starters Grant and comparative Telstar were by 4.0% higher and by 5.4% lower, respectively, than in the control group Standard. No significant changes in the parameters of nitrogen, energy, lipid and mineral metabolism, health status, hepatic parenchyma and thyroid function were observed throughout the experimental period. The diet based on experimental starter Grant had no adverse effect on the ruminal fermentation in calves. It may therefore be concluded that the starter diet with 10% content of treated rape cake had no adverse effect on calf growth and performance.Keywords: Brassica napus; treated rape cake; nutrient consumption; weight gain; metabolic profile; rumen fluid
492Original Paper Czech J. Anim. Sci., 51, 2006 (11): 491-501 show goitrogenic effects, cause inflammations of the digestive tract, kidneys and urinary tract, hepatic and thyroid hypertrophy and reduce the iodine milk content (Papas et al., 1979;Schone et al., 1994;Mawson et al., 1994a;Kalač and Míka, 1997).The long-term feeding of rapeseed diets leads to infertility in cows, reduction in milk production and weight gain and the abortion and stillbirth rates increase (Wemheuer, 1993;Mawson et al., 1994b). The risk associated with rapeseed feeding has been reduced significantly by the breeding of new oilseed rape cultivars with lower content of GLS and erucic acid. A reduction of antinutrients is likewise enhanced by some technological treatments of extracted rapeseed meal such as extraction or esterification. Nevertheless, the content of extracted rapeseed meal in the rations should not exceed 15 to 25% for cattle, 15 to 20% for dairy cows and 2 to 12% for calves (Männer, 2001).GLS content remains unchanged in rape cake that has not been subjected to extraction or esterification. The adverse effects of GLS on animal health may be reduced by increasing iodine dietary intake or reducing their levels in the diet by ferric or copper ions, ...