indian Vet. J., September 2006 ; 976-979 GROWTH, HEALTH AND BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS OF DAIRY CALVES FED ACIDIFIED WHOLE MILK Jale Metin, Mete Yanar, Olcay Güler, Bahri Bayram and Naci Tüzemen Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Atatiirk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey. (Received : 06-07-2005; Accepted : 26-11-2005) The present study was undertaken to determine whether feeding acidified whole milk (AM) gives satisfactory result on growth, health performance and behavioural traits of Holstein Friesian calves reared in Eastern Region of Turkey. Materials and Methods Twenty seven Holstein Friesian calves (15 female, 12 male) born in the Research Farm of Collage of Agriculture at Atatiirk University, Erzurum, Turkey were assigned randomly to acidified whole milk (AM) or sweet whole milk (SM) groups. The calves were kept in the individual pens containing feeders and milk water buckets during the trial. The AM was prepared daily by adding formic acid to the whole milk. Then, the final pH of the milk dropped to 4.8 Calves were offered either AM or SM from open pails once a day (every morning at 8.00 AM) at 8% of their birth weight, and all calves were weaned at five weeks of age (Yanar ef a/., 1997). The experiment lasted for six months. Two kinds of starters were used in this study. Starter I (18.5% crude protein) was fed before 4 months of age, and starter II (17.6% crude protein) was offered between 4 and 6 months of age. The quantity of starters was limited as 2kg/day, however, dry hay was given to calves ad libitum. Birth weight, weaning, 4 and 6 months of ages weights were determined and recorded. Body length, height at withers, heart girth and chest depth were also measured at birth and 6 months of ages. In the preweaning phase, faecal consistency scores for each calf were determined daily as follows : 1=normal (soft-solid consistency, no fluid), 2=soft (semi-solid, mostly solid), 3=runny (semisolid, mostly fluid), 4=watery (all fluid) as described by Larson ef a/., (1977). Data concerning behavioural traits were obtained from individual video records of each calf with 5 minute interval after feeding of milk. The data were analysed statistically by suitable technique and by using a 2x2 completely randomised factorial experimental design. Results and Discussion Body weights of calves obtained various stages of the growth are presented in the table 1. Birth, weaning, 4 and 6 months weights were not different among AM and SM treatments. These data were in agreement with findings Kaya et al., (2000). Weight of male calves at birth and 6 months of age were heavier by 4.7 and 12.6 kg respectively. Comparable results concerning influence of sex groups were also reported by Turgut et al., (1997) and Yanarefa/., (2000).