Figure 1.

Experimental design. Two different diets were fed during the early growth stage. The high-energy (metabolic imprinting, EHN) group was intensively fed milk replacer (maximum intake of 1.8 kg (fresh matter) per day) with calf starter until 3 mo of age and then fed concentrate (with roughage available ad libitum). The roughage (RG) group was given milk replacer at the Japanese standard level (maximum intake of 0.6 kg (fresh matter) per day) with calf starter until 3 mo of age and then fed with only hay ad libitum until 10 mo of age. Thereafter, the 2 groups were fed the same roughage diets during the fattening period (11 to 31 mo of age).