Determination of the effects of feeding cold soured milk to calves under normal conditions

The effect of cold milk drink on selected biochemical and haematological parameters in calves blood during the milk nutrition period was observed in farm conditions, as compared with the current feeding regime. The test group was offered cold sour milk drink (one 1 MKS Laktosan acidulated with addition of 22 ml formic acid to a pH of 4.6) at the temperature of 16 degrees C after four-day-adaption till the calves average age of 61 days. The control group was given MKS Laktosan in the usual way, using the same amount of the drink and time of serving it. During the test the performance was recorded, as well as haemoglobine content, total protein, haematocrit, urea, glucose, cholesterol, transaminase (ALT and AST) activities and alkaline blood reserves. In the studied parameters no significant differences were found between the test and control group (P greater than 0.05). The average daily gains of live weight during the period of milk nutrition was 0.762 kg in the test group and 0.667 kg in the control group.