Effects of alfalfa hay and sodium bicarbonate in the starter diet on performance of Holstein dairy calves

This trial was performed to determine the effects of alfalfa hay, sodium bicarbonate and their combination in the starter diet on performance, blood metabolites, digestibility of nutrients, fecal score and body structure in Holstein dairy calves. Individually housed calves (n=40, body weight=42.6±2.2 kg), 10 days after birth, were used in a completely randomized design (n=10 calves per treatment: 5 males and 5 females) and fed by one of the following four treatments: 1-Starter concentrate(Control), 2-Starter concentrate% alfalfa hay(SA) 3-Starter concentrate% sodium bicarbonate(SS) and 4-Starter concentrate% alfalfa hay% sodium bicarbonate (SAS) for 60 days. The calves had ad-libitum access to water and experimental starter diets and received 4 kg/d milk in the whole experimental period. The results showed that the calves used SAS diets had lowest final body weight (p