Table 1 Body weight and drinking variables in 18 Holstein Friesian calves aged 1 to 5 weeks (means±standard deviations)

Body weight

A

50.0 ± 3.2

55.0 ± 3.7

59.3 ± 5.5

67.3 ± 3.9

72.5 ± 3.8

(kg)

B

49.8 ± 5.5

54.7 ± 6.6

60.5 ± 5.9

67.3 ± 7.2

73.9 ± 8.2

C

49.2 ± 10.7

54.7 ± 10.9

60.2 ± 14.5

66.5 ± 14.8

76.3 ± 17.3

All calves**

49.7 ± 6.76

54.8 ± 7.19

60.0 ± 9.02

67.1 ± 9.14

74.2 ± 10.7

Amount of

A

3.0 ± 0.23²

3.3 ± 0.20^1,2

3.5 ± 0.32

4.1 ± 0.19

4.3 ± 2.65

milk

B

3.7 ± 0.79

4.4 ± 0.52

4.7 ± 0.55

5.1 ± 0.72

4.6 ± 1.13

consumed

C

4.0 ± 0.44

4.3 ± 0.82

4.6 ± 1.45

5.5 ± 2.01

5.5 ± 1.32

per meal (L)

All

calves**

3.6 ± 0.67

4.0 ± 0.72

4.2 ± 1.01

4.9 ± 1.33

4.8 ± 1.08

Amount of

A

6.0 ± 0.07²

6.0 ± 0.06^1,2

5.9 ± 0.05^1,2

6.0 ± 0.04^1,2

6.0 ± 0.07

milk

B

7.4 ± 0.97

7.9 ± 0.07

7.7 ± 0.64

7.6 ± 6.71

6.3 ± 17.19

consumed per

C

8.3 ± 12.12

7.9 ± 13.82

7.5 ± 10.63

8.2 ± 15.01

7.2 ± 9.18

meal in percent of body weight

All calves

7.3 ± 12.92

7.3 ± 11.87

7.1 ± 10.67

7.3 ± 12.97

6.5 ± 11.79

Drinking

A

4.9 ± 1.09

3.9 ± 1.09²

4.5 ± 1.49

4.7 ± 1.85

4.4 ± 1.05

duration per

B

6.0 ± 2.02

5.0 ± 1.31

4.8 ± 1.13

5.2 ± 1.07

5.5 ± 0.63

meal (min)

C

7.5 ± 1.61

6.4 ± 1.17

5.7 ± 0.92

6.1 ± 2.01

5.8 ± 1.09

All calves

6.4 ± 1.76

5.1 ± 1.54

5.0 ± 1.25

5.4 ± 1.70

5.2 ± 1.08

Drinking

A

0.6 ± 0.10

0.9 ± 0.07

0.9 ± 0.36

1.0 ± 0.37

1.1 ± 0.27

speed

B

0.7 ± 0.24

0.8 ± 0.31

1.0 ± 0.30

1.1 ± 0.40

0.8 ± 0.21

(L/min)

C

0.6 ± 1.51

0.9 ± 0.32

0.8 ± 0.26

1.0 ± 0.43

1.0 ± 0.35

All calves**

0.6 ± 0.18

0.9 ± 0.28

0.9 ± 0.31

1.0 ± 0.38

1.0 ± 0.28

Sucks/min

A

126 ± 14

135 ± 10

144 ± 17²

143 ± 10

141 ± 9

B

111 ± 13

124 ± 26

133 ± 21

136 ± 16

115 ± 29

C

103 ± 31

100 ± 30

110 ± 14

120 ± 18

122 ± 17

All calves*

113 ± 22

120 ± 27

129 ± 22

133 ± 17

126 ± 22

Sucks/L

A

230 ± 22

157 ± 38

183 ± 66

167 ± 57

143 ± 36

of milk

B

189 ± 86

138 ± 42

139 ± 36

141 ± 36

142 ± 30

C

198 ± 86

152 ± 70

147 ± 38

147 ± 62

137 ± 44

All calves**

204 ± 71

149 ± 50

156 ± 50

151 ± 51

141 ± 35

Amount of

A

4.6 ± 0.55

6.8 ± 1.60

6.1 ± 2.13

6.9 ± 2.52

7.5 ± 1.70

milk ingested

B

5.9 ± 1.70

8.1 ± 2.48

7.7 ± 1.63

7.6 ± 2.26

7.4 ± 1.49

per suck (ml)

C

6.2 ± 2.58

7.6 ± 2.88

7.5 ± 1.78

8.3 ± 3.65

8.0 ± 2.96

All calves*

5.6 ± 1.89

7.5 ± 2.31

7.1 ± 1.90

7.6 ± 2.77

7.6 ± 2.04