One week before weaning, the cow/calf pairs were housed in pens (up to 6 pairs/pen) in order to become acquainted to the feeding stuff and facilities of the stable. Calves had free access to concentrates (6.7 MJ NEL;18.0% CP) offered in troughs (1 trough/pen). Water was available ad libitum. The forage ration consisting of grasssilage (10.0 MJ ME/kg DM; 14.4% CP) was delivered by anautomatic feeding belt twice a day.