M. L. Eastridge3 1*
D. K. Roseler+
*The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
+Countrymark Cooperative, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Two studies were conducted to investigate performance of calves being fed different calf starters. In Trial 1, a commercial calf starter was compared to a specially designed calf starter with higher NDF content but source of the additional NDF was from highly digestible byproducts. Grain intake averaged 2.04 and 2.21 lb/day during 49 days of age for the calves fed starters containing 20.6 versus 36.3% NDF, respectively. The ADG from birth to weaning was 1.07 and 1.31 lb/day for the calves fed control versus the high fiber grain. In Trial 2, a flavor additive was included in a commercial calf starter to determine if the flavoring increased grain consumption by calves. Grain intake was higher than during Trial 1 but not different between the treatments, possibly because of the high grain intake with the control calf starter. The high grain intake resulted in weaning calves between four and five weeks of age. Average daily gain from birth to weaning (0.79 lb/day) was similar between the two treatments. Calves can be successfully weaned at four to five weeks of age, but actual weaning age should be based on grain intake. On average, a target of 1.0 lb/day of body weight gain should be used for preweaned calves.
1For more information, contact at: The Ohio State University, 221B Animal Science Building, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1095; 614-688-3059; fax: 614-292-1515; e-mail: eastridge.1@osu.edu