Buttermilk feeding of dairy calves

Abstract

In a preliminary experiment 2 groups of 9 spring-born Jersey calves were fed whole milk once daily from 1 to 4 weeks of age. After a change-over period of 1 week, calves of 1 group received reconstituted buttermilk once daily at 7 pints per feed, the other receiving whole milk at the rate of 7 pints once daily. All calves were rotationally grazed on fresh leafy pasture from 1 week of age. The experiment showed that buttermilk powder could be fed once daily at a constant rate and give results at least as good as those obtained by feeding whole milk under the same conditions. In the main experiment 24 spring-born female Jersey calves, divided into 3 groups, were fed initially with colostrum, followed by whole milk. Calves in one group changed to buttermilk powder at 1 week of age, those in the second and third groups changing to buttermilk powder at 2 and 3 weeks respectively. Each group was further divided into 2 sub-groups, calves in one receiving vitamin A and D, and those in the other receiving no vitamin supplement. As in the preliminary experiment, calves were rotationally grazed on fresh, leafy pasture from 1 week of age. No differences in liveweight gain or incidence of scours were attributable to the treatments. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.