Properties of the Colostrum of the Dairy Cow. VIII. Digestibility of Colostrum and Milk by Calves during the Early Postnatal Days of Life

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Abstract
Studies were made of the apparent digestibility of nutrients in the natural food of new-born calves, colostrum and early milk, when these secretions were fed in the normal sequence from birth to 17 days. The 4 feeding and feces collection periods were days 1-2, 3-4, 5-8, and 14-17 after birth birth of the calf. Carmine was used as a food-feces marker to permit the division of an uninterrupted feeding of the diet of milk of variable composition into the 4 separate digestion trial periods. Avg. apparent digestion of dry matter, carbohydrate, ether extract, and ash at each of the periods was between 90 and 99%. The apparent digestion of protein was under 90% at periods II and III. Avg. apparent absorption of vit. A was 81 to 95%; carotenoids, only 35 to 65%.