Beneficial Effect and Economic Importance of using all Colostrum Produced in Calf Raising

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
76 calves were divided into comparable groups at birth. For the first 3 days all calves received colostrum from their dams. After 3 days, the calves in both groups were fed and managed similarly, except that the calves in one group received colostrum, whenever available, replacing part or all of the regular ration of Holstein milk. The amts. of either milk or colostrum fed were detd. by the body wts. of the calves. Calves in the group fed extra colostrum maintained higher levels of blood plasma vitamin A and carotene, made more rapid wt. gains, especially during the first 6 weeks, and exhibited a superior physical appearance. Abrupt changes in the amts. of colostrum fed, which in some instances varied from no colostrum to all colostrum, did not create any special management problems. The calves did not scour from colostrum feeding. Complete utilization of all colostrum for calf feeding is important from an economic standpoint. Only 30% of the colostrum produced in The Ohio State Univ. dairy herd during the calendar year was used in feeding calves during the first 3 days. The balance, which exceeded 4,000 lb., was used to replace an equal amt. of marketable milk in the feeding of calves in Group I. The general practice of using all the colostrum produced in the raising of calves would result in a substantial saving of marketable milk.