RAISING DAIRY CALVES WITHOUT WHOLE MILK

Abstract

The results of feeding experiments, involving a total of 117 Holstein-Friesian calves, were reported. No whole milk nor fresh skimmilk was fed to the calves after their second day of age. Milk substitutes containing 40 to 50 per cent dried skimmilk, 5 to 10 per cent emulsified, stabilized lard and at least 30 p.p.m. of Aureomycin (chlortetracycline) or Terramycin (oxytetracycline) in the dry matter permitted weight gains equal to, or exceeding, the Beltsville standards during the milk feeding period. Supplementary lecithin had no effect on performance of the calves. Weaning calves from milk substitutes at weights of 145 to 150 lb. was considered preferable to weaning at specified ages because of apparent differences in physiological development that exist among calves for the first few months of life.