Directed Calf Raising in the Conditions of Adaptive Technology

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Zootechny

Background:

• Optimizing calf rearing and fattening is crucial for livestock productivity.
• Adaptogenesis to environmental stressors, like cold, impacts young stock development.
• Biostimulators offer a potential method to enhance animal health and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a zootechnical justification for using PS-2 and PS-4 biostimulators in calf rearing.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these biostimulators in activating adaptogenesis to cold.
• To assess the impact of biostimulators on productive qualities during calf rearing and fattening.

Main Methods:

• Intramuscular injection of PS-2 (polysaccharide complex) and PS-4 (PS-2 plus cephalosporin antibiotic) to calves at 2-3 and 7-9 days of life.
• Monitoring growth, development, exterior measurements, and growth coefficients throughout raising, rearing, and fattening periods.
• Assessing disease incidence (respiratory, digestive), recovery time, and carcass yield parameters.

Main Results:

• Experimental groups treated with PS-2 and PS-4 showed significantly higher live weight gains (7.2-16.8 kg) compared to controls.
• Biostimulator administration reduced respiratory and digestive diseases by 2.0-4.0 times and decreased recovery time.
• PS-2 and PS-4 increased pre-slaughter weight (14.6-18.0 kg), hot carcass weight (12.8-15.8 kg), and improved meat yield and quality grades.

Conclusions:

• PS-2 and PS-4 biostimulators are effective in stimulating calf growth and development.
• These biostimulators enhance cold adaptogenesis and reduce disease incidence in young stock.
• The use of PS-2 and PS-4 improves overall productive qualities and carcass characteristics in calves.