Abstract
Responses to varying ratios of dietary protein to energy were observed in Holstein calves 8 to 18 weeks of age. Four equal groups of seven males each were fed practical rations of readily available feedstuffs. Ratios of protein:energy were 1:15.1, 1:17.3, 1:19.1 and 1:25.5 (grams digestible protein per kilocalorie of digestible energy) by varying the proportions of soybean oil meal and. corn. Growth and feed utilization were similar for the four groups. Average daily gain was 1.12kg and feed consumption averaged 4.26kg per calf daily. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and of energy was higher by calves on diets having 1:15.1 and 1:25.5 ratios than by those receiving intermediate ratios. Digestibility of nitrogen was greatest in the group fed the 1:15.1 ratio. Total free amino acids of the blood were significantly higher in those groups on the 1:15.1 and 1:17.3 ratios than in the other two groups. Significant differences for serine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine were similar to those of total amino acids.
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