Total Protein and Immune Status in Blood Plasma.

<p>Plasma concentrations of total protein (<b>A</b>) and immunoglobulins (Ig) G1 (<b>B</b>), IgG2 (<b>C</b>), and IgM (<b>D</b>) in calves fed milk replacer (MR) either <i>ad libitum</i> (ADLIB, black square, straight line) or restrictively (RES, white circle, dashed line) for the first five weeks of life. MR intake in ADLIB was gradually reduced during weeks 6 and 7 to amounts fed in RES. The data are presented as the least squares means ± standard error. *Different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.05.</p

Endocrine Status in Blood Plasma.

<p>The plasma concentrations of insulin (<b>A</b>), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I; <b>B</b>), and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-2 (<b>C</b>), -3 (<b>D</b>), and -4 (<b>E</b>) in calves fed milk replacer (MR) either <i>ad libitum</i> (ADLIB, black square, straight line) or restrictively (RES, white circle, dashed line) for the first five weeks of life. MR intake in ADLIB was gradually reduced during weeks 6 and 7 to amounts fed in RES. The data are presented as the least squares means ± standard error. ^†Trend between between groups <i>P</i> < 0.1, *different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.05, **different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.01, and ***different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Feed Intake and Growth Performance.

<p>Colostrum and milk replacer (MR) (<b>A</b>) and concentrate intake (<b>B</b>), total metabolizable energy (ME) intake, body weight (<b>D</b>), and average daily gain (<b>E</b>) in calves fed MR either <i>ad libitum</i> (ADLIB, black square, straight line) or restrictively (RES, white circle, dashed line) for the first five weeks of life. MR intake in ADLIB was gradually reduced during weeks 6 and 7 to amounts fed in RES. The data are presented as the least squares means ± standard error. ^†Trend between groups <i>P</i> < 0.1; *different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.05; **different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.01; and ***different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Composition of Milk Replacer (MR) and the Concentrate.

<p>Composition of Milk Replacer (MR) and the Concentrate.</p

Metabolic Status in Blood Plasma.

<p>The plasma concentrations of glucose (<b>A</b>), lactate (<b>B</b>), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB; <b>C</b>), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA; <b>D</b>), triglycerides (<b>E</b>), and cholesterol (<b>F</b>) in calves fed milk replacer (MR) either <i>ad libitum</i> (ADLIB, black square, straight line) or restrictively (RES, white circle, dashed line) for the first five weeks of life. MR intake in ADLIB was gradually reduced during weeks 6 and 7 to amounts fed in RES. The data are presented as the least squares means ± standard error. ^†Trend between groups <i>P</i> < 0.1, *different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.05, **different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.01, and ***different between groups <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Carcass Composition.

<p>The weight of the hot carcass, liver, pancreas, fat depots, and distinct muscle cuts<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0168974#t003fn002" target="_blank">¹</a> and the size of the musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) in calves fed milk replacer (MR) either <i>ad libitum</i> (ADLIB) or restrictively (RES) for the first five weeks of life.</p