Effect of Feed Flavor in Milk and Calf Starter on Feed Consumption and Growth

Abstract

A feed flavor was added to milk and to starter to determine if young calves could be encouraged to eat dry feed by association of starter and milk. Forty-eight calves received milk until weaning at 5 wk of age. Twenty-four of the calves received a commercial flavor containing ethyl butyrate, butterscotch and maple flavors, and saccharin at 137 mg/kg added to milk just before feeding. Within each group, 12 of the calves were fed a pelleted starter; the other 12 were fed the same starter with the same flavor added at 6 g/kg. Beginning with wk 2, calves fed flavor in starter began to consume more starter than those consuming starter without flavor; this difference was significant in wk 5. Calves fed flavor in milk and starter consumed more starter than calves not fed flavor from either source. Calves receiving flavor in starter gained more weight than those not fed flavor. Weight gains of calves fed flavor in starter were similar regardless of whether they were fed flavor in milk. Flavor in milk without flavor in starter had no significant effect.