EVALUATION OF CALF STARTERS CONTAINING DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CRUDE PROTEIN FOR GROWTH OF HOLSTEIN CALVES

Holstein calves (n = 110) were used to evaluate the effect of calf sta rters containing 15, 16.8, 19.6, or 22.4% CP, DM basis (diets A, B, C, and D, respectively), on calf performance from d 4 to 56 of life. Pre weaning daily gain tended to increase linearly as protein content of d iets increased, averaging .37, .39, .38, and .44 kg/d for diets A, B, C, and D, respectively. After weaning, calves fed diet C gained the mo st (.86 versus .71, .75, and .79 kg/d for A, B, and D, respectively). Overall BW gains from d 4 to 56 averaged .54, .56, .62, and .61 kg/d f or A, B, C, and D, respectively. Throughout the experiment, starter co nsumption tended to increase as CP content of diet increased. Under th ese conditions, maximum growth was supported by diet C (19.6% CP); no advantage was gained from higher (22.4%) protein content. Calf growth was moderate when calf starters of lower protein contents (15 or 16.8% ) were fed.