THE RÔLE OF MINERALS IN CALF FEEDING

                                                BY

                A. C. CHAUDHURI, B.Sc., Ph.D. (EDIN.),

        Professor of Hygiene, Dietetics and Animal Breeding,
                Bihar and Orissa Veterinary College, Patna.

                (Received for publication on the 19th July 1932.)
                                        (With one fig.)

The present experiment was planned and carried out with the idea of finding
some means to improve the condition of a number of calves which were very back-
ward in growth at the cattle breeding farm attached to the Bihar and Orissa Veteri-
nary College. It was found that in the herd of calves in the farm there were a
large number of them which were lean, small and unthrifty in condition though
otherwise they were quite healthy.

In studying the causes which might have produced this backward condition,
it became apparent that the calves were insufficiently nourished and attention was
therefore directed to finding a suitable milk substitute to be given in conjunction
with the milk ration.

An experiment was carried out in Aberdeen and Edinburgh by Orr, Crichton,
Shearer and Speedy [1929] to rear calves with a minimum amount of milk plus some
milk substitute without in any way interfering with a satisfactory rate of growth.
They were able to maintain in the experimental calves a satisfactory rate of growth,
as compared with the controls which received a full milk ration, by supplying a
small amount of milk, and a supplement consisting of an appropriate protein and
mineral mixture with a little cod liver oil added to it, to make the composition of
the ration more like that of milk.

An investigation carried on with poultry in 1923 showed that a great impetus
to the growth rate could be given by the addition to a cereal ration of small quan-
tities of mineral salts having a composition closely allied to that of the minerals in
eggs. Later in 1925 in Scotland and Northern Ireland it was demonstrated that
the addition of milk to a ration of mixed cereals doubled the rate of growth in
chicks and that for this purpose separated milk was as good as whole milk.

From these experiments it is evident that minerals play an important part in
growth ; unless sufficient minerals of the right kinds are available in the food sup-
plied, a satisfactory rate of growth is not maintained.

Ordinarily the milk of the dam is the natural food for calves and satisfactory
growth is obtained from it when supplied in sufficient quantity. It is found that

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