Letter to the editor: Pelleted calf starter with straw access can confound results: a comment on Bach et al. (2007).

Abstract

Field application of the report by Bach et al. (2007) should be done with caution based on a key condition. In the Materials and Methods section, the statement that “Calves were not offered any roughage (although it is likely that they consumed some straw from bedding)” could explain why calves were ostensibly able to eat less pelleted starter without marginal acidosis, have similar BW gain, and have increased feed efficiency compared with calves fed the multiparticle starter. Unfortunately, the amount of straw that may have been consumed is unknown.