The development of calves reared on varying amounts of whole milk

Abstract

The response of calves to varying amounts of whole milk, as revealed by two experiments at the University of Reading farm at Sonning, is considered as a study of growth and development.In the first experiment, which had been carried out between 1944 and 1951, seventy-five Shorthorn calves were divided into three groups (A, B and C) reared on 90, 65 and 40 gal. respectively. The treatments produced significant and prolonged differences in live weight.A second experiment, carried out between 1952 and 1954, consisted of twenty-eight Shorthorn and twenty-eight Friesian calves in four groups (I–IV) reared on 100, 79, 57 and 35 gal. respectively. Very much less response to the treatments was found in live weight, and the effects on thirteen body measurements were even smaller, though still statistically significant. A marked difference in the response of the two breeds was apparent, the Shorthorns showing greater treatment effects in live weight and most of the body measurements.