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Comparison of Pelleted Milk Replacers with Liquid Replacers in Diets of Dairy Calves

Dairy Science Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

ABSTRACT

In three separate eight-week trials, responses of calves fed milk replacers in pelleted form were compared to those of calves fed replacers in liquid form. Whole milk was withdrawn from the diet at different stages. The form of the replacer did not effect consistent differences in total weight gains (P > .10), health, or general thriftiness of the calves. Maximum pellet consumption was attained more rapidly and weight gains were more consistent when whole milk feeding was discontinued at 17 days of age rather than at 10; however, no advantage was found for feeding milk for a longer period. During the three-week period immediately following withdrawal of milk from the diet, the average rumen pH was lower and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration higher in calves fed replacer pellets than in those fed the replacers in liquid form. Differences between groups in the proportion of VFA in the rumen fluid could be attributed to fermentation of the replacer pellets in the rumen.

¹ Present address: Pryor, Oklahoma.

² Present address: Department of Dairy Science, Virginia PolytechniC Institute, Blacksburg.