A comparison between an early weaning and a more conventional system of rearing dairy calves

Abstract

1. Two groups of 12 Ayrshire heifer calves were reared from birth to 14 weeks on two contrasting systems.2. The conventionally reared group consumed 19 gal. of milk, 86 gal. of milk substitute and 195 lb. of calf meal (17·0% crude protein in dry matter) in 14 weeks whereas the early-weaned animals consumed 5 gal. of milk, 19 gal. of milk substitute and 259 lb. of early-weaning cubes (22·7% crude protein in dry matter) in the same period and were weaned from milk substitute at 5 weeks old. All the calves had unlimited access to dried grass (12·0% crude protein in dry matter).3. The mean live-weight gain of the calves on the conventional system was 1·26 lb./day and of the early-weaned animals, 1·20 lb./day. These values were not significantly different.4. None of the experimental calves had bloat or indigestion and there was only one minor outbreak of scour.5. At the present day prices of the foods, the early-weaning system was the cheaper system both per day and per pound of live-weight gain.