The effect of level and method of feeding milk substitute and housing environment on the performance of calves

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. Thirty-six Ayrshire and 48 Friesian male calves were used in two separate experiments to examine the effect of level and method of feeding milk substitute in two different housing environments. The calves were weaned when the daily intake of air-dry, milk substitute plus concentrates per head reached 1·59 kg, provided at least 0·45 kg of this intake was from concentrates. 2. The feeding systems affected the total consumption of milk substitute (P< 0·001) and created differences in live weight at weaning. The housing environments affected the age at weaning (P< 0·001) and the intake of milk substitute (P< 0·001). 3. The extra capital cost involved in a ‘controlled environment’ type of calf house does not appear to be justifiable in terms of calf health or performance when compared with the performance of calves in a ‘climatic’ house in the north-east of Scotland.