Apex Plant Botanicals for Neonatal Calf Milk Replacers and Starters

Two trials were conducted to examine the effect of including 0.05% Apex plant botanicals (BFI Innovations Inc., Elgin, IL) in the milk replacer (MR), starter feed (18% CP), or both. In trial 1, calves were fed either an all milk CP MR (MILK) or a MR with 45% CP from soy protein concentrate (SPC) with and without Apex. In trial 2, the SPC MR and a starter was fed with or without Apex. Each trial was a randomized block design. Holstein bull calves (< 7 d old, 40 ± 1 kg BW initially, 48/trial) were fed 454 g/d of a 20% CP, 20% fat MR with free-choice starter and water (targeting 0.4 kg ADG) and weaned at 42 d. In trial 1, calves fed the all milk CP MR gained BW faster and were more efficient from 0 to 56 d than calves fed SPC (P < 0.05). Calves fed MR with Apex gained BW faster from 0 to 35 d, were more efficient from 0 to 56 d, and consumed more starter from 42 to 56 d than calves fed MR without Apex (P < 0.05). In trial 2, calves fed MR with Apex gained BW faster and were more efficient from 0 to 42 d than calves fed MR without Apex (P < 0.05). Calves fed the starter with Apex gained BW faster, consumed more starter, and were more efficient from 42 to 56 d (P < 0.05) than calves fed the starter without Apex. Apex improved calf ADG, starter intake, and efficiency.