The Nutritional Merits of Pelleting Calf Starters

Since the feed pelleting process was first introduced into this country in 1929, it has gained tremendous popularity among feed manufacturers. Based on a study of feeds manufactured by 14 cooperative feed mills, Rickey (7) found in 1951 that the output of pelleted feeds varied from 10 to 85% of the total output. Among the advantages found for pelleting swine (3) and poultry Ohio workers (1) in 1939 and Newman avd Savage (6) in 1938 found that young dairy calves fed starter rations partially pelleted grew at slightly slower rates than calves fed unpelleted starters. In the latter study the pelleted rations were less palatable to calves from 2 to 6 weeks of age.