U. Barpeled et al., INCREASED WEIGHT-GAIN AND EFFECTS ON PRODUCTION PARAMETERS OF HOLSTEIN HEIFER CALVES THAT WERE ALLOWED TO SUCKLE FROM BIRTH TO 6 WEEKS OF AGE, Journal of dairy science, 80(10), 1997, pp. 2523-2528
Forty Holstein heifer calves were assigned to two treatments. Control
calves (n = 20) were fed milk replacer in open buckets, and calves tha
t were allowed to suckle (n = 20) were paired and suckled the same dam
three times daily. Treatments were conducted during the first 6 wk fo
llowing birth; thereafter, all calves received the same management, an
d weaning was at 60 d of age. During treatment, calves that were allow
ed to suckle had significantly higher average daily gains than did con
trol calves. However, at 12 wk of age, calves that were allowed to suc
kle had significantly lower body weights (BW) than did control calves.
Age at conception was significantly lower, and BW at conception and c
onception rate tended to be higher, for calves that were allowed to su
ckle. Calving age was significantly earlier for heifers that had been
allowed to suckle as calves, and BW at calving also tended to be highe
r. Height at the withers after calving was also significantly higher f
or those heifers. Milk production during first lactation tended to be
higher for the heifers that had been allowed to suckle as calves. Our
results indicated that heifer calves that suckled milk during the firs
t 42 d of age had higher average daily gains, higher height at the wit
hers, an earlier age at calving, and a tendency for greater milk produ
ction than did calves fed milk replacer.