Effects of dilution of reconstituted buttermilk on the intake, growth, and health of Jersey calves

Abstract

1. Twenty-seven spring-born Jersey female calves were used in a randomised-block experiment to investigate the effects of dilution of reconstituted buttermilk on their intake, growth, and health. All calves were fed alike to 3 weeks of age when, according to their treatment groups, they received reconstituted buttermilk with an average dry matter content of 6.6 per cent, 12.4 per cent, or 22.0 per cent. The calves were weaned at 9 weeks of age, provided they had reached a minimum weight of 110 lb. The animals were rotationally grazed on fresh leafy pasture throughout the experiment and were allowed access to water. 2. Differences among treatment groups in live weight at 9 weeks of age, consumption of dry matter from buttermilk powder (B.M.P.), incidence of scouring, and time to reach 110 lb were all statistically significant (P < .01), but there was no significant difference in the live weights of the animals at 18 weeks of age. The regression of dry matter intake (as B.M.P.) on the dry matter per cent of the reconstituted buttermilk (b = 3.66 S.E. 0.29) was highly significant (P < .01). 3. Calves receiving the most dilute ration had the slowest growth rates, but the ratio of in take of B.M.P. to liveweight gain was lower, and the incidence of scouring was considerably less, than that for the other 2 treatment groups.