Nipple versus Pail Feeding of Milk to Holstein Calves

Many conflicting claims have been made relative to the advantages or disadvantages of hand-feeding milk to calves by nipples as compared to open-pail feeding. Advocates of the nipple system feel that by forcing the calf to drink more slowly and by elevating its head the milk is directed to the abomasum, thus by-passing the tureen. Only limited research on these methods of milk feeding has been reported. Alexander (1) noted only slight differences in weight gains of calves fed by nipple as compared to those fed fronl pails for a period 24 weeks from birth. They noted a small advantage for nipple-fed calves in two trials and a rather large difference in favor of pail-fed calves in the third. Wise et al.