The development of solid food intake in calves 5. The relationship between liquid and solid food intake

SUMMARY Reconstituted milk substitute was given at two concentrations of powder (10% and 20%), each at four levels (10% powder—8, 12, 16 and 20% of live weight (LW); 20% powder—6, 8, 10 and 12% of LW) to 3 British Friesian male calves per treatment from 2 to 4 weeks after arrival, and the calves were weaned over the next 7 days. Chopped dried grass was offered to appetite before and for 3 weeks after weaning. The amount of solid food eaten was not affected by the dry-matter concentration of the milk substitute, but was significantly depressed as the amount of milk consumed increased. Between-treatment differences in solid food intake established at weaning persisted until the end of the experiment. There was a dose, positive relationship between milk intake and live-weight gain (LWG) before weaning, but weight gain after weaning was not significantly affected by the level of milk intake before weaning.