Energy exchanges of veal calves in relation to body weight, food intake and air temperature

Abstract

SUMMARY1. Two series of energy balance trials were conducted with British Friesian veal calves. In the first, calves were given a milk replacer diet at three different planes of nutrition. In the second, calves were raised from about 80 to 180 kg at four air temperatures, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20°.2. The net efficiency of utilization of the milk replacer diet for growth was 0·72. The effect of body size on heat production in growing calves was best expressed by an exponent of body weight slightly but not significantly below W0·75.3. Measurements of heat production estimated from respiratory exchange and heat loss measured by direct calorimetry agreed exactly at all planes of nutrition. Heat production at zero energy retention was 675 kJ/kg W0·75 per 24 hr.4. Average daily live-weight gain and total heat loss were the same at all air temperatures. Changes during growth in the partition of heat loss into its sensible and evaporative components indicated that calves acclimated progressively to the air temperatures to which they were exposed.