Performance of Calves Fed Fermented Mastitic Milk, Colostrum, and Fresh Whole Milk

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Abstract
Weight gains, milk intake and health of calves fed fermented mastitic milk from cows treated and not treated with antibiotics were compared with those of calves fed fermented colostrum or fresh normal milk at 2 intakes. Calves fed fermented mastitic milk from cows treated with antibiotics and those not treated with antibiotics, fermented colostrum (diluted 1:1 with water) and fresh normal milk, gained, respectively, 0.13, 0.14, 0.13 and 0.10 kg/day in trial 1; fed at 8% of body wt daily and 0.09, 0.11, 0.18 and 0.13 kg/day in trial 2, fed at 10% of body wt daily from birth through 30 days of age. All calves were housed in individual pens during milk feeding. Feeding milk at 10% in trial 2 did not improve gains over those in trial 1. Incidence of health disorders and mastitis in 1st lactation of cows fed fermented mastitic milk as calves was not different from those of cows fed fresh normal milk or fermented colostrum. Fermented mastitic milk appears to be an economical and safe feed for rearing calves when calves are housed individually during milk feeding.