Feed Intake and Performance in Calves Fed ad Libitum and Four Times Daily

Colostrum and milk replacer consumption was studied in Holstein and Hereford neonate calves. Average daily colostrnm consumption during their first three days of life ranged from 9.0 to 21.7% of birth weight for the Holsteins and 4.9 to 16.4% for the Herefords. Average daily body weight gains ranged from 1.8 to 5.0% of birth weight for the Holsteins and 1.7 to 3.6% for the Herefords. An average of one kilogram of gain was produced from 4.56 kg of colostrum for the Holsteins and 7.16 kg for the Herefords. From three to 41 days of age, Holstein and Hereford calves were fed ad libitum on milk replacer rations containing 6.5 or 19.5% total solids using automatic calf feeders. Two addi-tionaI groups of Holstein calves were fed either the 6.5 or 19.5% total solids ration to appetite at six-hour intervals.