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The Effect of Various Restricted Diets on the Growth and on Certain Blood Components of Young Dairy Calves^{1, 2,}

Dairy Husbandry and Chemistry, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Ames

ABSTRACT

Seven groups of calves were fed, respectively (from 4 to 60 days of age), whole milk and various reconstituted diets which contained different types and amounts of fats and milk solids other than fat. Vitamin A, 12,000 I.U. per 100 lb. body weight daily, was the only supplement. This level of vitamin A supplementation was not adequate to prevent a decrease in plasma vitamin A levels of calves fed low-fat and hydrogenated soybean oil diets. Diets containing milk fat (approximately 18,000 I.U. total vitamin A equivalent per 100 lb. body weight daily) maintained blood plasma vitamin A at relatively constant levels.

Some variations among groups in weight gains were observed but the differences were not significant statistically. Mean blood plasma fat concentrations were highest for calves in the whole milk group, followed in decreasing order by those in groups fed butter oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, and low-fat diets. Feeding of reconstituted diets resulted in decreased blood fat levels during the first week in all instances, in contrast to a rise in blood fat levels in calves which were fed whole milk. Mean blood reducing sugar levels decreased for all groups during the 8-week experimental period. In most instances the values for calves on low-fat diets (high in lactose) were higher than for calves in the other groups. Since there were no apparent differences among the various dietary groups in the other blood constituents investigated (plasma calcium, plasma inorganic-phosphate, and hemoglobin), the group mean values were combined to establish average trends.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-2723, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Ames, project No. 814.

² Supported in part by funds provided by Western Condensing Co., Appleton, Wis.

³ Present address: Dairy Science Department, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville.