The Effect of Various Restricted Diets on the Growth and on Certain Blood Components of Young Dairy Calves

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Abstract
Groups (7) of calves were fed, respectively, (from 4 to 60 days age), whole milk and reconstituted diets containing different types and amounts of fats and milk solids other than fat. Vitamin A (12,000 I.U./100 lb. body weight/day) was the only supplement. Decreases in blood plasma vitamin A occurred at this level of supplementation in calves fed low-fat and hydro-genated soybean oil diets. Diets containing milk fat (approximately 18,000 I.U. total vitamin A equivalent/100 1b. body weight/day) maintained blood plasma vitamin A at a relatively constant level. Mean blood plasma fat concentrations were highest with whole milk, followed by butter oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, and low fat diets, respectively. Feeding of reconstituted diets decreased blood fat levels during the first week in all cases, while the whole milk diet increased blood fat levels. Mean blood reducing sugar levels decreased for all groups during the 8-week period. In most instances the values for calves on low-fat diets (high in lactose) were higher than for calves in other groups. No apparent differences existed among groups in the other components (plasma Ca, plasma inorganic phosphate, and hemoglobin); therefore, the group mean values were combined to establish average trends.

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