Feeding Mastitic Milk to Calves: Review

Abstract

Milk from cows treated with antibiotics for mastitis and other disorders has been fed to young calves in fresh or fermented form. Growth of calves so fed has been similar to that of control animals offered fermented colostrum or other liquid feeds. Incidence of health disorders in mastitic milk-fed calves has been no greater than in those fed control milks. Mastitic milk preserved by addition of propionic acid or formaldehyde was relatively unpalatable to the calves. Limited data indicate that first-lactation cows fed mastitic milk as calves suffered no more udder trouble than did their mates formerly given other liquid feeds. © 1981, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.