Effects of a Self-Fed Pelleted Mixture of Hay and Calf Starter on the Performance of Young Dairy Calves

Newborn calves fed milk and a selffed pelleted (.95-crn die) mixture of three parts calf starter and one part ground suncured alfalfa hay consumed signif/cantly more feed and gained more weight than calves fed milk, starter, and hay separately in the conventional manner.Results were similar when the experirnent was repeated with a .48-cmpellet; calves preferred the pellet having the smaller diameter.In a third experiment the self-fed pelleted mixture containing 22% protein was compared with one containing 18% protein.Calves receiving the 22g protein mixture gained more than those receiving the 18% protein mixture.There was no difference between groups in feed intake.