Milk Replacers for Dairy Calves. I. A Comparison of an All Milk By-Product Replacer and Limited Whole Milk with and Without Chlortetracycline

Abstract

Summary Forty Holstein calves, 20 males and 20 females, were used in a 2 × 2 × 2 fractorial design to compare growth response and the incidence and severity of scours of calves fed limited whole milk or milk replacer and each fed with and without chlortetracycline. The milk replacer was formulated entirely from milk by-products, except for fat-soluble vitamin supplementation. Whole milk intake ranged from 8 to 12 lb. and milk replacer from 0.8 to 1.5 lb/calf/day to weaning age of 7 wk. Chlortetracycline intake varied with feed intake and ranged from 50 to 275 mg/calf/day. Although normal growth was sustained by both milk and replacer rations, weight gains were significantly greater at 90 days of age for calves fed whole milk. No differences in body weight gain were evident at weaning age. Increases in height at withers or heart girth were not affected by type of milk fed. Chlortetracycline resulted in significant increases in weight gains at weaning age. However, by 90 days no differences in weight response to antibiotic feeding were evident. The incidence and severity of scours were increased by replacer feeding, and chlortetracycline did not decrease them.