The effects of milk feeding on the pre- and post-weaning growth of calves, and on stomach development at weaning

Abstract

Summary The pre-weaning and post-weaning gain, oaroass production and stomach development of oalves fed four levels of whole milk (8%, 10%, 12% and 14% of live weight daily) was studied in two experiments. Calves had access to pasture at all times and were weaned at 12 weeks. Pre-weaning gain, weaning live weight, and carcass weight at weaning all increased as the quantity of milk increased. At the 14% level, male calves reached heavier weaning live weights and produced heavier carcasses than females. Reticulo-rumen weight, when expressed as a percentage of total stomach weight, was significantly reduced with increased milk feeding. Calves reared on the higher quantities of milk gained more slowly after weaning, this being attributed to their poorer reticulo-rumen development at weaning.