ASPECTS CONCERNING THE BREEDING OF LIMOUSIN CALVES IN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

Abstract

The aim of the research was to monitor the growth process of the Limousin calves from birth to weaning (six months old). The research was performed on S.C.TAOS.S.R.L situated in Covasna. In this farm, the rearing of the calves was not made by a technological guide. The maintaining system was outdoor, during summer on pasture, and in the winter season, in free stabulation. The calves had been grown along with the mother cows, having free access to the paddock. The base of feeding was represented by semi-hay, corn silage, barley straw and cereals (barley, wheat and corn) and grazing is made on lowland meadow. The introduction of vegetal food into the calves ration is done at 3 weeks old. In the first period (first month old), the daily gain was 666.7 g at heifers and 800 g at calves. In the second period (from one month old until weaning), the daily gain was 1120 g at heifers and 1200 g at calves. The stress of weaning was present only to the young females; for ten days, these were restless, having the desire for sucking and the appetite for feed has decreased. Their bodyweight has decreased with 12%, the differences being significantly (p ≤ 0.05).