Digestibility of Dry Matter and Nitrogen and the Nitrogen Balance of Three Skimmilk Diets Fed to Holstein Calves

Abstract

Eighteen Holstein bull calves were used to determine the apparent digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and nitrogen retention of low-temperature-treated skimmilk (71.1C for 16 to 20sec), high-temperature-treated skimmilk (85 to 87.7C for 20 to 30min), and fresh skimmilk as the sole diet during 4 to 13 and 14 to 23 days of age. The respective diets contained 77, 44, and 102mg whey-protein per 100g of milk.There were no significant differences among diets or between periods in the digestibility of dry matter, total nitrogen, or nitrogen retention. There was, however, a slightly better over-all apparent digestion and nitrogen retention of the fresh skimmilk diet. There was also a tendency towards a greater frequency of diarrhea among calves fed diets which contained whey protein in smallest amounts. As dry matter percentage in the feces decreased, the apparent digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen decreased in all diets.