Effect of Fiber Level and Physical Form of Starter on Growth and Development of Dairy Calves Fed No Forage

Purchased dairy calves were raised for 8 wk in unbedded, elevated stalls and given no forage to examine impact of offering no roughage on the growth and development of neonatal calves. High and low fiber starter diets were fed in pellet or coarse mash forms. Calves were fed milk replacer until weaned after 4 wk on trial. Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diet groups: low fiber pellet, low fiber coarse mash, high fiber pellet, and high fiber coarse mash. The pelleted feeds had an average particle size of 888 µm and the coarse mashes averaged 2,014 µm. Diets and water were fed ad libitum throughout the trial. Calves on coarse mash diets gained 0.64 kg/d from wk 4 to 8 and 0.41 kg/d from 0 to 8 wk, which was greater than 0.51 and 0.32 kg/d respective gains of calves on pelleted diets (P < 0.05). Calves on coarse mash diets consumed 60.9 kg starter during the 8-wk period, which was greater (P < 0.05) than 47.6 kg consumed by calves on pelleted starters. Rumination was initiated earlier and digestive upsets were reduced in calves receiving coarse mash diets. Total digestible nutrients and digestibility of DM, ether extract, CP, and nitrogen-free extract were higher (P < 0.05) in low than in high fiber diets with exception of crude fiber. Digestibility was greater (P < 0.05) in coarse mash than pelleted diets with the exception of CP, which was similar. Digestible and ME were also greater in low fiber than high fiber diets and greater in coarse mash than pelleted diets (P < 0.01). There were no symptoms of rumen parakeratosis, and rumen development was improved in calves receiving coarse mash feed.