Energy exchanges of veal calves fed a high-fat milk replacer diet containing different amounts of iron

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. A total of 33 energy balance trials was conducted with veal calves offered a high-fat milk replacer diet containing 10, 20, 40 or 100 mg iron/kg DM. 2. There were no significant differences in weight gain, food conversion or energy retention between calves receiving 20, 40 or 100 mg iron/kg DM in their diet. Calves receiving only 10 mg iron/kg gained weight and retained energy at significantly lower rates than those in the other groups. 3. The metabolic heat production of calves receiving the liquid diet was greater than that of calves given the same amount of gross energy from a barley diet. The recommended air temperature of about 20°C for veal calf houses is therefore unnecessarily high.