MILK REPLACER USE IN SUBSTITUTION OF WHOLE MILK ON THE PERFORMANCE OF HOLSTEIN CALVES DURING GROWING PHASE

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological efficiency of the milk replacer in the substitution of whole milk for calves at the first months of age and at rearing fase. This study was conducted in Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Dois Vizinhos, from May 2011 to April 2012. This research was carried out on 32 animals, assigned in a completely randomized design with four treatments (100% whole milk, 34% milk replacer + 66% whole milk, 66% milk replacer + 34% whole milk and 100% milk replacer) and eight replications.The data were analyzed by analysis of variance and regression at 5% of significance. Regarding the morphometric measurements, only the gain of chest circumference presented significant difference. The use of milk replacer in the substitution of whole milk during pre-weaning phase showed negative linear response for levels 100%, 66%, 34% milk replacer, nevertheless during the post-weaning phase there was a compensatory gain for the animals fed with 34% and 66 % milk replacer. The use of 100% milk replacer for Holstein calves at pre-weaning phase was not efficient during lactation, althoug, during post-weaning phase, partial replacement of milk by milk replacer (66% + 34% milk replacer) was an efficient option because there was a favorable compensatory growth.