Short communication: Milk meal pattern of dairy calves is affected by computer-controlled milk feeder set-up

Ninety-six calves housed in groups of 8 were fed either a high milk allowance (heavy breeds 9.6 L/d; Jerseys 7.2 L/d) or a low milk allowance (heavy breeds 4.8 L/d; Jerseys 3.6 L/d) via a computer-controlled milk feeder. Half of the calves on each allowance could ingest the milk in 2 or more daily milk portions, whereas the other half could ingest the milk in 4 or more daily portions. Data were collected during 3 successive 14-d periods, the first period starting the day after introduction to the feeder at minimum 12 d of age. High-fed calves ingested their milk in 4.0 and 4.9 meals for a minimum of 2 and 4 portions, respectively, whereas low-fed calves ingested their milk in 2.4 and 4.4 meals for a minimum of 2 and 4 portions, respectively. Calves on a high milk allowance had fewer milk meals over time, whereas calves on a low milk allowance had the same number of milk meals throughout. Thus, the development from small and frequent milk meals to fewer and larger meals reported by studies of natural suckling was also found among high-fed calves on a computer-controlled milk feeder. Irrespectively of minimum number of milk portions, the low-fed calves had more unrewarded visits to the computer-controlled milk feeder, indicating that they were attempting to get more milk. The results of the present study suggest that offering a high milk allowance and avoiding restriction on meal pattern may result in a feeder use that more closely resembles natural suckling.