Two trials evaluated the effect of processing
sorghum grain on performance of young
dairy calves. In trial 1, newborn Holstein
calves (49 heifers and 27 bulls) were blocked
by age and sex and assigned randomly to each
of three calf starters containing either raw,
roasted (Jet-Pro®) at 280 degrees F, or conglomerated
(Jet-Pro®) sorghum grain. The
conglomeration process consisted of grinding
the grain, adding water, and pelleting the mixture,
then roasting it. Raw and roasted sorghum
grains were ground through a .125-inch
screen and included in complete pellet starters,
whereas conglomerated sorghum grain pellets
were mixed with the other ingredients of the
starter, which were pelleted. Starters were
offered ad libitum from birth to 8 wk of age.
The raw sorghum grain starter was palatable
and supported acceptable growth rates, but
processing did not further enhance calf performance.
In trial 2, roasted and conglomerated
sorghum grains were ground through a .125-
inch screen and included in pelleted starters fed
ad libitum to Holstein calves (21 heifers and 28
bulls) from birth to 8 wk of age. Feed consumption
and body weight gain were not affected
by method of grain processing. However,
22% of calves on the conglomerated
sorghum grain starter bloated sometime during
the post-weaning period, which may have
resulted in reducing feed intake. Measures to
ensure maintenance of the rumen environment
may be necessary, if a potential benefit of
conglomerating sorghum grain for young dairy
calves is to be realized.
