Body fat deposition does not originate from carbohydrates in milk-fed calves.

Milk-fed heavy calves utilize dietary protein with a low efficiency and often develop hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Distributing the daily nutrient intake over an increasing number of meals increases protein deposition and improves glucose homeostasis. Therefore, we examined effects of feeding frequency (FF) and feeding level (FL) on the diurnal pattern of substrate oxidation and on the fate of dietary carbohydrates in milk-fed heavy calves.