Weaning of calves with utilization of extrused whole soybean in calf starters

Abstract

Twenty calves received just after colostrum feeding, the following treatments: calf starters with soybean meal (SM) or extruded whole soybean (EWS) plus liquid milk; and with SM or EWS plus dry powder milk. All calves were weaned from milk (liquid and dry form) on the 36th day, and after that were fed only with calf starters. From the 7th to the 35th day, treatments with liquid milk presented better weight gains, and those with EWS resulted in lower feed consumptions. After weaning, from 36th to 63rd day of life, or considering the whole experimental period (7th to 63rd day) higher height of whiters gains were obtained in diets with liquid milk. Blood glicose levels, rumen mucosa development in slaughtered calves and diarrhea incidence were similar among treatments. The use of EWS in early-weaned calves was viable, but the feeding system with dry powder milk did not result in a normal development of the calves.