[Haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in veal calves (author's transl)]

The haemoglobin and haematocrit levels were studied in three groups of about thirty male Dutch-Friesian veal calves. The iron content of the milk replaces was 5, 10 and 25 ppm. During the experiment which was continued for sixteen weeks, the haemoglobin and haematocrit levels decreased in all groups. The decrease was confined to the first six weeks in the calves fed the milk replacer containing 25 ppm of iron. In the two other groups, the decrease of the two criteria continued throuhgout period. Regardless of the iron content of the milk replacer, the decrease of Hb- and haematocrit levels of the individual calves was greater in those having the highest initial level. The borderline for anaemia in a group of sixteen-week-old veal calves is estimated at approximately 10 g. Hb/100 ml. blood. For an individual calf, the borderline is estimated at 8 g. Hb/100 ml. blood.