Response of Young Dairy Calves with Lasalocid Delivery Varied in Feed Sources

Abstract

Growth, age at weaning, fecal scores, and blood metabolites of young dairy calves were measured to determine the most effective method of lasalocid administration. Forty Holstein bull calves were blocked by date of birth and assigned randomly to one of four treatment groups: no lasalocid; lasalocid in starter; lasalocid in prestarter and starter; or lasalocid in milk, prestarter, and starter for a 12-wk period. Calves were fed milk twice daily until they consumed 227 g/d of prestarter, at which time the p.m. milk feeding was discontinued, and starter was offered for ad libitum intake as a mixture with the 227 g/d of prestarter. When total dry feed consumption reached 1.3% of birth weight, the calf was weaned. When the calf was 5 wk of age, the prestarter was discontinued. Daily gain tended to be greatest during the first 6 wk for the calves receiving lasalocid in milk, prestarter, and starter. These calves also were weaned with less variation in days to weaning. By wk 8 through 12, there were no differences in gain among the treatment groups.