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Evaluation of a Feed Intake Stimulant for Dairy Calves¹

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721

ABSTRACT

Forty-eight 2-day-old Holstein calves were penned individually and assigned randomly to four treatment groups (equalized for sex): 1) control; 2) 3 mg Elfazepam2 per day in milk, then in starter after weaning; 3) 6 mg Elfazepam per day in milk, then in starter after weaning; 4) no Elfazepam in milk, 6 mg per day in starter from 2 days of age. Whole milk was fed twice daily for 28 days. A starter diet was fed ad libitum from 2 to 90 days of age. Alfalfa hay was fed ad libitum beginning 4 days post-weaning. Intake and performance were similar among treatments during prewean-ing and for 10 days postweaning. After 10 days postweaning (41 to 90 days of age), daily feed intake and gain were greater for calves receiving 6 mg Elfazepam per day (milkstarter) than for controls. Over the 88-day trial, all calves receiving Elfazepam consumed 10% more feed and gained weight 6% more rapidly than control calves. Feed efficiency was not different among treatment groups during any phase of the study. Elfazepam appears to stimulate intake in young growing ruminants.

¹ Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 2908.