Effect of milk intake level on performance, skeletal growth and plasma metabolites of Holstein female calves

Authors

1 Faculty member, Ilam University

2 Graduate of Animal Nutrition, Ilam University

3 Faculty member, Department of Animal Science, Ilam University

4 Professional manager

Abstract

Background and objectives: Milk consumption is one of the most important factors affecting growth and survival of calves in the pre-weaning period. Usually due to the higher cost of milk for feeding calves, it is recommended that the amount of milk intake be maintained at about 10% of body weight (4 liters per day), so that the calf is more encouraged to intake starter diet. In recent years, researchers have been looking for the best milking pattern to support the growth of calf more economically .The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two milk intake patterns, including conventional (4 kg / day) and free milk intake on the performance, skeletal growth, and blood metabolites of Holstein female calves.
Materials and methods: Thirty newborn Holstein female calves with average BW of 42.7 ± 2.2 kg were used in a completely randomize design. Experimental treatments included of conventional (4 Kg/d) and ad libitum milk intake. The experiment carried out in two periods: pre-weaning (day 1 to day 60) and post-weaning period (day 61 to day 120). Calves fed milk twice daily in the morning and the afternoon and had free access to starter diet and water. Starter intake was measured daily and ADG was calculated in a weekly basis. Skeletal parameters including body length, withers height and pin distance were taken at weaning (day 60) and end of the experiment (day 120). Blood metabolites including glucose, total protein, triglyceride and cholesterol were measured on days 30 and 60 of the study.
Results: The results showed that calves fed ad libitum milk intake had lower pre-weaning starter intake (P<0.01) and greater starter intake (P<0.01) during post-weaning and overall periods than those fed conventional milk intake. In calves fed ad libitum milk intake, average daily gain was higher (P<0.01) than the calves fed conventional milk intake during pre-weaning and overall periods but it was lower (P<0.01) during post-weaning period. Feed efficiency was higher during pre-weaning (P=0.05) and lower during pre-weaning period (P<0.01) in calves fed ad libitum than those fed conventional milk but it was insignificant in the overall period (P>0.05). Body weight of calves fed ad libitum milk intake was greater during pre-weaning, post-weaning and overall periods than those fed conventional milk intake (P<0.01). Calves fed ad libitum milk intake had greater (P<0.05) body length than those fed conventional milk intake. Plasma glucose and cholesterol concentrations were greater (P<0.05) in calves fed ad libitum milk intake than those fed conventional milk intake in day 30 of experiment. Plasma total protein and cholesterol concentrations were not affected by milk intake pattern (P>0.05).
Conclusion: It is concluded that ad libitum milk intake resulted in better performance of dairy calves.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1.Appleby, M.C., Weary, D.M., and Chua, B. 2001. Performance and feeding behavior of calves on ad libitum milk from artificial teats. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 74: 191-201.
2.Baldwin VI, R.L., McLeod, K.R., Klotz, J.L., and Heitmann, R.N. 2004. Rumen development, intestinal growth and hepatic metabolism in the pre- and post weaning ruminant. Journal of Dairy Science. 87: 55–65.
3.Borderas T.F., de Passille, A.M., and Rushen, J. 2009. Feeding behavior of calves fed small or large amounts of milk. Journal of Dairy Science. 92: 2843–2852.
4.Budzynska, M. and Weary, D.M. 2008. Weaning distress in dairy calves: Effects of alternative weaning procedures. Animal Behavior Science. 112: 33–39.
5.Davis, C.L., and Drackley, J.K. 1988. The development, nutrition and management of young calf. Ames, Iowa State University Press. Pp: 150-151.
6.Diaz, M.C., Van Amburgh, M.E., Smith, J.M., Kelsey, J.M., and Hutten, E.L. 2001. Composition of growth of Holstein calves fed milk replacer from birth to 105-kilogram body weight. Journal of Dairy Science. 84: 830–842.
7.Drackley, J.K., Pollard, B.C., Dann, H.M., and Stamey, J.A. 2007. First-lactation milk production for cows fed control or intensified milk replacer programs as calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 1: 614.
8.Hadorn, U., Hammon, H., Bruckmaier, R.M., and Blum, J.W. 1997. Delaying colostrum intake by one day has important effects on metabolic traits and on gastrointestinal and metabolic hormones in neonatal calves. Journal of Nutrition. 127: 2011–2023.
9.Hammon, H., Schiessle, M., Nussbaum, A., and Blum, J. 2002. Feed intake patterns, growth performance, and metabolic and endocrine traits in calves fed unlimited amounts of colostrum and milk by automate, starting in the neonatal period. Journal of Dairy Science. 85: 3352–3362.
10.Hepola, H. 2003. Milk feeding systems for dairy calves in groups: Effects on feed intake, growth and health. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 80: 233–243.
11.Huuskonen, A., and Khalili, H. 2008. Computer-controlled milk replacer feeding strategies for group-reared dairy calves. Livestock Science. 113: 302–306.
12.Jasper, J., and Weary, D.M. 2002. Effects of ad libitum milk intake on dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 85: 3054–3058.
13.Jasper, J., Budzynska, M., and Weary, D.M. 2008. Weaning distress in dairy calves: Acute behavioral responses by limit-fed calves. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 110: 136–143.
14.Khan, M.A., Lee, H.J., Lee, W.S., Kim, H.S., Kim, S.B., Ki, K.S., Ha, J.K., Lee, H.G., and Choi, Y.J. 2007. Pre- and post-weaning performance of Holstein female calves fed milk through step-down and conventional methods. Journal of Dairy Science. 90: 876–885.
15.Khan, M.A., Weary, D.M., and von Keyserlingk, M.A. 2011. Invited review: Effects of milk ration on solid feed intake, weaning, and performance in dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science. 94: 1071-1081.
16.Korst M., Koch, J., Kesser C., Müller, U., Romberg, F.J., Rehage, J., Eder, K., and Sauerwein, H. 2017. Different milk feeding intensities during the first 4 weeks of rearing in dairy calves: Part 1: Effects on performance and production from birth over the first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science. 100: 1–13.
17.Larson, L.L., Owens, F.G., Albright, J.L., Appleman, R.D., Lamb, R.C., and Muller, L.D. 1977. Guidelines towards more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data. Journal of Dairy Science. 60: 989–991.
18.Lesmeister, K.E., and Heinrichs, A.J. 2004. Effects of corn processing on growth characteristics, rumen development, and rumen parameters in neonatal dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 87: 3439–3450.
19.Lohakare, J.D., van de Sand, H., Gerlach, K., Hosseini, A., Mielenz, M., Sauerwein, H., Pries, M., and Sudekum, K.H. 2012. Effects of limited concentrate feeding on growth and blood and serum variables and on nutrient digestibility and gene expression of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes in dairy calves. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 96: 25–36.
20.Moallem, U., Werner, D., Lehrer, H., Zachut, M., Livshitz, L., Yakoby, S., and Shamay, A. 2010. Long-term effects of ad libitum whole milk prior to
weaning and prepubertal protein supplementation on skeletal growth rate and first-lactation milk production. Journal of Dairy Science. 93: 2639-2650.
21.Omidi-Mirzaei, H., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani,G.R., Moshiri, B., Mirzaei, M., Pezeshki, A., and Ghaffari, M.H. 2015. Effects of the step-up/step-down and step-down milk feeding procedures on the performance, structural growth, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 98: 7975-7981.
22.Raeth-Knight, M., Chester-Jones, H., Hayes, S., Linn, J., Larson, R., Ziegler, D., Ziegler, B., and Broadwater, N. 2009. Impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer programs on Holstein heifer performance through six months of age and during first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science. 92: 799–809.
23.Rosenberger, K., Costa, J.H.C., Neave, H.W., von Keyserlingk, M.A.G., and Weary, D.M. 2017. The effect of milk allowance on behavior and weight gains in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 100: 504-512.
24.Shamay, A., Werner, D., Moallem, V., Barash, H., and Bruckental, I. 2005. Effect of nursing management and skeletal size weaning on puberty, skeletal growth rate, and milk production during first lactation of dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science. 88: 1460-1469.
25.SAS User’s Guide: Statistics, Version 9.0 Edition. SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC. 2005.
26.Sweeney, B.C., Rushen, J.P., Weary, D.M, and de Passillé, A.M.B. 2010. Duration of weaning, starter intake, and weight gain of dairy calves fed large amounts of milk. Journal of Dairy Science. 93: 148–152.
Journal of Ruminant Research
Volume 6, Issue 2
September 2018
Pages 31-42

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics