EFFECTS OF INCREASING THE ENERGY VALUE OF A WHOLE MILK DIET FOR CALVES. II. GROWTH, FEED UTILIZATION, AND HEALTH

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Abstract
In each of three growth trials, Holstein male calves grew significantly faster (P < 0.05) when whole milk was supplemented with the energy sources glucose (cerelose) or butterfat. In two trials, growth rates of 819 and 829 g/day were obtained on whole milk with energy values of 21.7 and 23.8 kcal digestible energy (DE)/g digestible crude protein (DCP), respectively, compared with gains of 1,023 and 986 g/day obtained by increasing the dietary energy value to 28 kcal DE/g DCP by glucose supplementation. Further increases in energy:protein ratio tended to reduce liquid intakes and growth rates, but adjustment by covariance to equal protein intakes showed significantly higher growth rates (P < 0.05) on supplemented milk with 31–32 kcal DE/g DCP than on normal whole milk. Protein consumed per unit weight gain was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by increasing the energy of a whole milk diet, but very high levels of added cerelose (> 13% of the liquid diet) caused severe diarrhea and reduced intakes and growth. The addition of 6% cerelose was well tolerated by calves and this level of supplementation produced more efficient growth per unit of protein consumed than lower levels. It was concluded that more suitable energy: protein ratios than commonly used in liquid diets for calves may result in improved protein utilization and thus have economic value.

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