The Effect of Curd Formation in the Abomasum on the Digestion of Milk Replacers in Preruminant Calves

Abstract

A digestibility trial was carried out with 14 preruminant Holstein calves fed 3 milk replacers. S: replacer based on skim milk powder; SP: as S incubated with pancreatin to prevent clotting; V: milk replacer based on whey powder. Milk was fed in pail by two daily feedings. Apparent digestibility (%) in the age period 8–14 days of the milks S, SP and V was: 91, 91 and 90 of crude protein, 94, 90 and 87 of fat, 98, 99 and 98 of N-free extracts and 96, 95 and 93 of organic matter. There was no general development in digestibilities with age in the period 8–28 days. Daily gain (8–28 days) on groups S, SP and V was 400, 341 and 345 g/day and feed conversion ratio respectively 1.45, 1.68 and 1.70 kg dry matter per kg gain. Health status was very good and unaffected by milk feeding.