Forty-two Holstein calves were used to evaluate the mineral supplement (MS) intake up to 60-day-old. The calves were divided into three groups, according to the milk replacer: whey/milk + MS (WMMS); whey + MS (WMS) and soy/milk + MS (SMMS). Commercial calf starter, hay, MS and water were offered "ad libitum", and the intake was measured daily. Body weight was monitored once a week and blood glucose levels were quantified on 14, 21 and 28-day-old and also before the supply of the diets, 3, 6 and 9 hours after feeding. Blood samples were collected weekly for blood count. On 30 and 60-day-old, five calves of each group had blood and urine samples collected for serum copper determination. After then, the animals were slaughtered and liver fragments were analyzed for minerals contents. It was found that between the sixth and eighth weeks, the calves from WMS group decreased the intake (P<0.05) of starter 674.72g/day and total dry matter (TDM) 699.33 when compared to the calves from WMMS and SMMS groups, which consumed an average of 1,080.02 and 1,223.65g/day of concentrate and 1,134.31 and 1,287.84g/day of TDM respectively. Animals from SMMS group presented higher weight gain (2.18kg/week) than MMS ones (1.13kg/week; P<0.05). The intake mean of MM in the first month was 9.00g/a/d and after the first month was 4.62g/a/d. Blood glucose levels were different among ages and times after feeding (P<0.05).
calf; blood count; copper; glucose; mineral
