The addition of tallow to milk-substitute diets for the young calf

Abstract

In two experiments, 0, 10, 20, and 30 per cent and 15, 20, and 25 per cent, tallow was incorporated into the milk-substitute diets of 164 male Friesian calves. Weight gains were recorded from 3 to 31 days of age. Two methods of incorporation-emulsifying with soyabean lecithin and homogenizing-and two milk temperatures-38°C and environmental temperature (18.88 ± 0.61°C)-were compared. Greatest weight gains were recorded with the 15 to 25 per cent tallow additions with the milk fed at 38°C. Feeding the milk at environmental temperature resulted in smaller weight gains with the higher levels of added tallow. Calves fed homogenized tallow gained 30 per cent more than those fed the emulsified tallow.