Performance of calves fed combinations of whole milk and reconstituted skim milk powder.

A 52-d study with 24 3-d-old calves compared the effect of feeding whole milk (controls) or milk diluted 1:1 or 1:3 with reconstituted skim milk powder (10%, wt/wt) on calf performance to weaning at 38 d. Skim powder diets were supplemented with vitamins and trace minerals. Liquid diet was fed at 5% body weight twice daily for 24 d, then once daily for 14 d followed by abrupt weaning. Starter was provided for ad libitum intake from 14 to 52 d. For the first 13 d, controls had the greatest weight gains, but at 38 and 52 d, gains were similar for all groups. Three-quarters of the whole milk diet could be replaced with reconstituted skim milk powder (10% wt/wt) without any reduction in calf gain to weaning because starter intake increased 23%.