This study was conducted to determine the effect of experimentally increased glucose demand on voluntary consumption of molasses by dairy calves. Three-week-old calves received 0.365 g of phlorizin by s.c. injection. Urinary output and molasses consumption were measured hourly, and urinary glucose concentration was screened. Molasses consumption for the 24 h after treatment was (mean +/- SE) 72.0 g (+/-7) for the control group and 142 g (+/-1) for the phlorizin-treated group. Urinary output for the 8-h test period was 1.13 kg for the control group and 1.67 kg for the phlorizin-treated calves. Mean urinary glucose peaked at 10 g/L by 4 h after treatment for calves given phlorizin, whereas the concentration for the control group remained close to 0 g/L. Phlorizin treatment increased voluntary consumption of molasses in 3-wk-old Holstein calves.
Animals Cattle