The period between birth and first suckling in dairy calves.

The period between birth and first suckling was recorded for 82 dairy calves. 11 per cent of heifers' calves and 46 per cent of cows' calves had not suckled by 6 h after birth. All calves, whether suckling spontaneously or put to the teat at 6 hr, had adequate 48 h total serum immunoglobulin levels.