The objective of this trial was to evaluate the performance of veal calves fed whole milk or milk replacers. Thirty Holstein calves from birth up to 160-170kg of body weight were randomly allotted to the following experimental treatments: I-whole milk; II- whole milk up to 100kg of body weight, and from this weight on, the supply of more liquid diet was from a commercial finishing milk replacer, added to the milk, up to slaughter; III-whole milk up to the 10th day of life, starter commercial milk replacer up to 100kg of body weight and finishing commercial milk replacer up to slaughter. There was no significant difference among treatments for calves daily weight gain (NS), age at slaughter (P=.06701) and carcass rate (P=0,21527); however, calves on treatment III showed higher dry matter feed intake (P=.00055) and, consequently lower feed efficiency (P=.00021). There was no significant difference among treatments for scours (P>.05) and nasal flow. The utilization of the tested milk replacer would be economically feasible if the price of 1kg of de product (powder) would be lower than 6.4 times the price of 1kg of whole milk.
calves; milk replacers; performance; veal
