Intake, Growth, and Selected Blood Parameters in Calves Fed Calf Starter via Bucket or Bottle

Abstract

Calf starter was offered to 40 calves in a plastic bucket or from a nipple bottle, and intake, growth, and selected blood parameters were measured. The nipple was designed with a large opening to allow feed particles to pass through the nipple during meals. Calves began the study at 7 d of age and were fed for 56 d. A commercially prepared calf starter was offered for ad libitum consumption from d 1 of the study, and commercial milk replacer was offered at 10% of BW to weaning at 6 wk of the study. No effects of treatment on intake, rates of gain, feed efficiency, blood BHBA or plasma glucose, urea N, or NEFA were observed. Consumption of starter DM exceeded 1.9 kg/d by wk 8 of the study. Concentration of blood parameters changed in a fashion consistent with developing ruminal function. Calf starter fed from a plastic nipple bottle promoted starter intake as effectively as did starter fed from plastic buckets.