The Relation of Growth, Feed Consumption, and Certain Blood Constituents to Changes in the Dietary of Young Dairy Calves

Abstract

Six starter mixtures, varying from simple to relatively complex in composition, were compared in the rations of dairy calves during the period from 4 to 116 days of age. Nine calves were assigned to each diet and all calves received a limited amount of whole milk from 4 to 53 days of age and alfalfa hay 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. Plasma fat values were closely correlated with dietary fat intake. Plasma carotenoids decreased during the initial 3 weeks and increased rapidly thereafter. Vitamin A values were lowest during the last 3 weeks of the milk feeding period and increased sharply upon removal of the milk from the ration. Blood reducing sugar values declined the first 6 weeks and remained relatively constant thereafter.