Nutrition, feeding, and calves: Water Balance and Fecal Moisture Content In Suckling Calves as Influenced By Free Access to Dry Feed

摘要

Holstein bull calves were used to examine the ef- fect of dry feed on water balance and fecal moisture content during the suckling period. In Experiment 1 (n = 20 calves), free access to concentrate and timo- thy hay decreased urine volume and increased appar- ent water retention, fecal water excretion, and fecal moisture content by 2 wk, although daily amounts of milk replacer also affected water balance when DMI from dry feed was low. In Experiment 2 (n = 20 calves), free access to concentrate and hay from wk 1 increased reabsorption of water from renal tubules during wk 2, resulting in reduced urine volume and increased plasma volume.