The Nutrition of the Newborn Dairy Calf III: The Response to a Photolyzed Milk Diet

The study investigated the effects of a photolyzed milk diet on four male Guernsey calves, focusing on riboflavin deficiency. The milk, exposed to a 400 W mercury vapor lamp, lost 96% of its riboflavin content, along with significant amounts of vitamin A and carotene. Calves fed this treated milk exhibited symptoms of riboflavin deficiency, including erratic growth, alopecia, and other health issues. Supplementing one calf's diet with 2 mg of riboflavin daily led to significant health improvements, including new hair growth. The calf receiving 2.99 mg of riboflavin from the start showed normal growth. The study suggests that the minimum daily riboflavin requirement for young calves is slightly less than 75 µg per kg of body weight, and riboflavin deficiency during the milk feeding period is unlikely.