Performance, health, and postweaning growth on calves fed cold, acidified milk replacer ad libitum.

Holstein calves were assigned to one of three regimens from d 4 to 35 of age, then abruptly weaned (program 1): A) conventional, all-milk protein milk replacer fed individually twice daily; B) ad libitum feeding of cold, acidified milk replacer to calves housed and fed individually in pens, and C) same as B, except calves were housed and fed in group pens. From d 36 of age to 136 kg of body weight calves were in group pens by treatment. Program 2 utilized the same treatments; however, acidified milk replacer calves were gradually weaned starting d 22 of age. For program 1, calves fed acidified milk replacer for ad libitum intake consumed more dry matter from liquid and less from grain than those fed conventionally. Calves fed acidified milk replacer showed improved gains of 8.7 and 8.4 kg up to d 35 of age. For program 2, dry matter intake from liquid was higher, and grain was lower for calves fed acidified milk replacer; however, differences were not as large as in program 1. Body weight gains were 1.1 and 2.8 kg higher for calves fed acidified milk replacer through d 35 of age. No mortality occurred with either program during preweaning. In both programs, fecal consistency was more fluid for calves fed acidified milk replacer; however, days calves were treated were less. Regardless of preweaning program, calves on all treatments reached 136 kg of body weight in approximately the same number of days.