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The Relation of Growth, Feed Consumption, and Certain Blood Constituents to Changes in the Dietary of Young Dairy Calves^{1, 2,}

Department of Animal Husbandry, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Ames

ABSTRACT

Six starter mixtures were compared in the rations of dairy calves during the period from 4 to 116 days of age. The respective concentrate mixtures varying from simple to relatively "complex" in composition were fed (maximum of 4 lb. daily per calf) to six comparable groups of calves. All calves were fed a limited amount of whole milk during the period from 4 to 53 days of age, and good quality alfalfa hay was fed ad libitum. There were no significant differences among groups in mean weight gains, incidence of diarrhea, blood reducing sugar, values, or in blood plasma fat, vitamin A, and carotenoids. The plasma fat values (all grotips combined) were closely correlated with dietary fat intake and were lowest at approximately 9 weeks. Plasma carotenoid values decreased during the initial 3 weeks and increased rapidly thereafter. Vitamin A levels were lowest during the last 3 weeks of the milk feeding period and increased sharply upon removal of the milk from the ration. Blood glucose values declined the first 6 weeks and remained relatively constant thereafter.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-2550, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Ames. Project 814.

² Research supported in part through funds provided by Western Condensing Co., Appleton, Wis.