ANIMAL PERFORMANCE AND FORESTOMACH GROWTH OF DAIRY CALVES FED MILK OR MILK REPLACER

The objective of this trial was the evaluation of milk or milk replacer feeding effects on performance and forestomach growth on dairy calves. Eight newborn Holstein calves were distributed on two types of liquid feed: 1) feeding of 4L of milk until 8 weeks of age; 2) feeding of 4L of milk until 2 weeks of age and 4L of milk replacer thereafter. Animals were individualized, receiving starter feed and water "ad libitum". After 8 weeks, calves were slaughtered for forestomach development evaluation. There were no treatments effects (P>0.05) on starter intake, live weight, daily gain or days to reach intake for early weaning. A significant effect (P<0.0001) of age was observed for starter intake, live weight and daily gain. Plasma glucose concentrations were not affected liquid diet, type however an age of the animals effect was observed (P<0.05). Treatments had no effect on forestomach compartments weight (reticulum-rumen, omasum and abomasum), compartments weight as percentage of total forestomach weight, and the maximal reticulum-rumen capacity (P>0.05). Milk replacer feeding had no effect on performance or forestomach growth, as compared to milk feeding, being a feasible alternative for dairy calves liquid feeding on early weaning systems.