White Mulberry （Morus alba） Foliage as a Feeding Supplement for Growing Calves

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feed consumption and weight gain in calves fed with a nutritional block made of white mulberry （Morus alba） for a 90-day-period, involving dry season months （March-May） in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico. A total of 45 growing Zebu x Swiss calves with an average weight of 200 kg were assigned randomly in three groups of 15 animals, and the following treatments of nutritional block were offered to each group： grazing animals （To）, grazing animals plus nutritious block with white mulberry （T1）, and grazing animals plus nutritious block without white mulberry （T2）. A consumption of 0.545 kg/d from block in treatment T1 was observed, significantly improving calves growing and showing a weight gain of 0.933 kg/d. Use of white mulberry in nutritional blocks is a good alternative for growing calves, as a feeding strategy given the seasonality of pasture production in the tropics.