Boran calves reared under partial milk offtake can undergo compensatory growth post-weaning and optimize beef-milk productivity

This study determined the long-term effect of restricted suckling on the post-weaning performance of Boran cattle. Thirty-two nursing cows and their calves arranged in a 4 X 2 factorial experiment were grazed in the tropical ecological zone IV range. The treatments were Full Suckling (FS), Milking from 1 Quarter (M1Q), milking from 2 Quarters (M2Q) and milking from 3 Quarters (M3Q) of the udder. Each treatment had eight calves, four of each sex. Weaning was at 210 days of age. At weaning, the M3Q calves had the lowest weight (P < 0.01), while the other treatments had similar weights. The highest (P < 0.01) post-weaning weight gains were during 18–24 months of age by M3Q treatment, which were 382 and 373 g/day for females (heifers) and males (steers), respectively. Steers from all treatments had similar weights from 12 months onwards while all the heifers reached the minimum mating weight set at 270 kg by 31 months. Their mating and calving were successful. The findings revealed that Boran calves can survive to weaning when suckling only a quarter (25%) of milk produced by dams yielding at least four litres daily. Upon weaning, compensatory growth occurs and enables catching up by 12–24 months of age.