Acid-base balance and selected hematologic, electrolyte, and blood chemical variables in calves: milk-fed vs conventionally fed.

Several hematologic, acid-base, and electrolyte variables were chacterized for newborn milk-fed calves and conventionally fed calves at weekly intervals for 15 weeks. Definition was given to the iron deficiency, microcytic, hypochromic anemia which developed in milk-fed calves. Acid-base variables in milk-fed calves differed from variables in conventionally fed calves only in having a greater value for base excess. Acid-base variables responded with decreasing magnitude by weeks for both feeding treatments, and responses associated with ambient temperature were suggested. Responses of the other variables and their comparisons between the feeding treatments also were analyzed.