Abstract. Title of the paper: Milk ingestion and growth performance of suckler calves born during winter stalling from German Red and White breed and from old type German Black and White breed in a cow-calf operation
On 14 calves from German Red and White breed and on 17 calves from old type German Black and White breed in a cow-calf operation measurements of body weight were done repeatedly during growth after separating the calves from the dams for 150 min and than again after the calves had contacted the dams for 60 min. Measurements took place always at the same daytime. Milk ingestion of calves was assessed by way of body weight difference method. Acute body weight difference varied markedly between calves and increased with age. The fraction of positive weight difference of all measurements was between 60 % and 86,2 % (male 60 % and 86,2 %; female 67,6 % and 80,6 %) in DRB breed and between 69,1 % and 89,3 % (male 72,9 % and 89,3 %; female 69,1 % and 82,6 %) in DSB breed. Means of all measurements showed a significant difference of acute positive body weight change and of growth rate between breeds and sexes. Mean acute positive body weight changes developed with life age and body growth with different degree in male and female calves. Growth rate of calves showed greater inter- and intraindividual variation from 1 to 10 days of life age. Differences in growth rate between male and female calves were more profound in DRB breed than in DSB breed.