Masters Theses
Date of Award
6-1963
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Major
Animal Husbandry
Major Professor
Eric W. Swanson
Committee Members
H.J. Smith, J.T. Miles
Abstract
In recent years there has been a gradual change from the use of whole milk to milk replacers or dried skimmed milk because they are more economical and less labor is required in feeding them. Feeding liquid milk to calves is a chore and a possible source of infection, so it is desirable to limit the milk drinking or suckling period to a short time. Calves will eat considerable concentrate feed if they are not drinking milk after five weeks of age. However, calves fed liquid milk beyond this age seem to grow more efficiently than those fed only dry feed. Dry feed consumed goes to the rumen of the calf where it is fermented. Liquid milk bypasses the rumen and goes directly to the abomasum, where protein and fat digestion begin. It is possible that the rumen fermentation lowers the nutritive value of the milk solids when fed dry rather than in the liquid form. It is important to determine whether or not the nutritive value is changed by the method of feeding and to evaluate feeding methods in the light of such knowledge. Little has been done in comparing the forms of feeding dried skimmilk. The purpose of this study was to compare the nutritive value of dried skimmilk fed in the liquid form with the same type of milk fed dry in the concentrate ration with equal energy intakes for both groups.
Recommended Citation
Thigpen, Julius E., "The comparative nutritive value of liquid and dry milk for dairy calves. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1963.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/8774