The basal metabolism of the newborn calf

Abstract

T h e first measurements of the basal metabolism of the young calf were reported by Brody (1930), who used the indirect calorimetric method of measuring oxygen consumption by means of a closed-circuit spirometer. Determinations were made on forty-three calves of less than 3 weeks of age but most of the values obtained were restricted to ages of 10-21 days. No definite trends during the first 3 weeks of life were observed and with two calves values obtained on consecutive days from birth showed a high variability. Brody concluded, from a consideration of mean heat production at monthly intervals, that resting metabolism/kg body-weight increased from birth to 2 months of age and decreased rapidly thereafter. When expressed on the basis of body-surface area, however, metabolism increased steadily to 6 months of age and then remained constant or tended to decline.