Substitutes for Fluid Milk in Feeding Dairy Calves

Abstract

13 different mixtures intended to replace fluid whole milk in the ration of dairy calves after 10-14 days of age were compared in tests on 185 Holstein calves. Approx. normal growth was obtained with mixtures containing large amts. of dried milk solids. In limited digestion studies, dried whey, glucose and sucrose appeared to be highly digestible for the young calf, whereas corn starch and banana meal were less digestible. Banana meal and apple pomace appeared to reduce the incidence of scours; however, all the mixtures studied caused more diarrhea than fluid whole milk.