Abstract
Effects of weaning age on plasma VFA were examined using 16 Holstein heifer calves. Animals entered the study at 6±3.5 d of age and were fed 1.8kg milk twice daily to 28 (early weaning) or 56 d (late weaning) and a commercial pelleted calf starter from 0 (early) or 28 (late) d. Blood was sampled once weekly for 14 wk Total blood concentrations of VFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate were higher in calves weaned early. Difference between treatments was greatest during wk 5 to 8, after early calves had been weaned. Total VFA and acetate were both highly correlated with grain intake (r = .77), whereas propionate (r = .47) and butyrate (r = .56) were less highly correlated. Data indicate that blood VFA responded rapidly to dry feed intake, and adaptation to high grain diets was complete by 1 to 2wk postweaning.
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