Feeding Naturally Fermented, Cultured, and Direct Acidified Colostrum to Dairy Calves

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Abstract
Holstein calves (32) which were allowed to nurse their dams for the first 3 days of life were allotted randomly into 4 groups of 4 males and 4 females and fed liquid diets of commercial milk replacer, naturally fermented, lactic acid cultured and acetic acid treated colostrum from 3-45 days of age. The colostrum was diluted 1:1 with water and fed twice daily at a daily rate of 10% of body weight. A starter ration of 18% crude protein was fed free choice beginning at 10 days of age. Average daily gains were .24, .29, .20 and .32 kg/calf for the respective diets. Daily starter intakes were .25, .53, .42 and .51 kg/calf; dry matter intakes/kg gain were 3.22, 2.59, 3.15 and 2.37. Incidence of scours was lower for calves fed colostrum than those fed commercial milk replacer.