Effect of enhanced whole-milk feeding in calves on subsequent first-lactation performance

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of enhanced whole-milk (WM) feeding systems in calves from birth to 8 wk of age on subsequent first-lactation performance. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design consisting of 2 treatment groups. At birth, 152 Holstein heifer calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: (i) 4 L of WM/d or (ii) 8 L of WM/d. The calves were bucket fed 2 or 4 L of WM twice daily at 0700 and 1600 h. Each calf was housed individually in temperature-controlled nurseries and had ad libitum access to water and textured calf starter daily. Calves consumed greater volumes of textured calf starter when fed 4 versus 8 L of WM/d. Water intakes mirrored starter intakes, leading to greater water consumption at weaning. Calves reared on 8 L of WM/d were heavier at d 56 than calves reared on 4 L of WM/d. The average daily gain of the calves offered 8 L of WM/d from d 0 to 56 was greater than that of calves offered 4 L of WM/d. Structural measurements were significantly greater for calves that consumed 8 L of WM/d. The differences observed in withers height and live BW due to WM feeding level were not apparent by 3 and 12 mo of age, respectively. Rumen pH was higher in calves that consumed 8 L of WM/d than in calves that consumed 4 L of WM/d. Whole-milk feeding level did not affect age at first calving or milk-production parameters. These results suggest that enhanced WM feeding improved growth performance until 3 mo of age. However, first-lactation results indicated no lactation-performance benefits of increased nutrition and growth performance during the milk-fed period in dairy calves.