Growth of Calves Fed Colostrum Naturally Fermented, or Preserved with Propionic Acid or Formaldehyde

Fifty-two Holstein calves were allotted randomly at 3 days of age to 1) whole milk, 2) sour colostrum, 3) colostrum + 1% propionic acid or 4) colostrum + 1.35 g 37% formaldehyde per liter. Liquid diets were offered once daily at 9% of birth weight to 35 days of age. Colostrum diets were diluted (two parts colostrum:one part water). Growth rates were similar for all liquid diets. Refusals of naturaUy fermented (sour) and propionie-acid colostrum were higher, particularly during periods when ambient temperature exceeded 24 C. Formaldehyde colostrum was accepted readily by all calves. Protein degradation was less for formaldehyde and propionic-acid colostrums compared to naturally fermented. Addition of formaldehyde resulted in greater acceptance by calves of colostrum stored at warm ambient temperatures. Propionic acid effectively preserved colostrum, but propionic acid colostrum was not accepted readily by calves.