Canola Meal, Cottonseed, and Soybean Meals as Protein Supplements for Calves1,2

Abstract

Forty-five day-old Holstein calves were assigned randomly to one of three calf starter rations that differed in that Canola meal, cottonseed meal, or soybean meal were protein supplements. In each group there were seven female and eight male calves. Calves were offered fresh starter ration, free choice, daily during an 8-wk preweaning period and were fed 2.27kg per head daily throughout an 8-wk postweaning period.For calves fed canola, cottonseed, and soybean meals, average daily gains for the preweaning period were .58, .62, and .62kg and for the postweaning period were .89, .89, and .92kg. In the same order, starter consumptions for the preweaning period were 20.6, 26.7, and 24.6kg; milk consumptions were 161, 176, and 174kg; packed blood cell volumes were 24.4, 22.9, and 24.9%; triiodothyronine concentrations were 1.78, 1.68, and 1.72ng/ml, and thyroxine was 21.1, 23.6, and 21.1ng/ml. There were no significant differences. Canola meal is acceptable nutritionally as a protein supplement for calf starters.