Beneficial effects of a calf starter versus forage on rumen development and bacteria populations in beef calves

Cándido Enrique Guerra Medina,Alejandro Ley De Coss,Oziel Dante Montañez Valdez,Pablo López Gómez,José Andrés Reyes Gutiérrez,José De Jesús Maldonado Méndez

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20200562

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Rumen development depends on the intake of solid food that is fermented into volatile fatty acids that stimulate the development of the rumen papillae in calves. The starter feeding can promote the growth of papillae in the rumen and as a consequence an earlier weaning. We evaluated the effects of calf starter on ruminal development, and productive response of lactating bull calves raised for meat in the tropics. Twelve male Brahman × Swiss American cross beef calves from a dual-purpose system were randomly assigned two treatments with six animals per treatment: milk-fed calves + Taiwan grass (Pennisetum purpureum, MT) and MT + calf starter, (MTS). Feed intake and growth were measured at 7-day intervals throughout until 210 d of age. At 90 days old, three calves from each treatment were harvested, and fluid and ruminal tissues were collected from the cranial, ventral, dorsal, and dorsal blind ruminal sacs for measurements of many papillaes per cm2 (NP), papillae length (LP) and papillae width (WP). Ruminal bacterial genotype identification was determined by amplicon generation with the Illumina platform. Calf starter-improved weight (Live weight, LW) and average weight gain (ADG) and NP, but, LP and WP was similar in both treatments (p < 0.05). In calves with starter feed treatment, we observed the bacteria Desulfonauticus autotrophicus sp. nov.that was not previously reported in ruminants. Use of calf starter showed benefit for calves with improved feed intake and rumen development because promoted a greater number of rumen papillae.

Highlights

Dual-purpose livestock represent 78% of cattle production in the tropical regions of Latin America, and it is estimated that most of the calves destined for beef production come from this system (SOLORIO et al, 2016)
This approach limits rumen development and functionality; at weaning, calves have fully undeveloped the capacity to use nutrients from forage, which affects post-weaning weight gain (SIMEONE & BERETTA, 2016).Rumen epithelium development is affected by the early intake of calf starter because it is fermented in the rumen, producing volatile fatty acids such as propionate and butyrate (KHAN et al, 2016); the latter functions locally in the ruminal wall to stimulate its development (KLEVENHUSEN et al, 2013; XIE et al, 2014)
This study evaluated the effect of calf starter intake on, ruminal development, productive responses and overall bacterial diversity of dual purpose calves in the tropics

Summary

Introduction

Dual-purpose livestock represent 78% of cattle production in the tropical regions of Latin America, and it is estimated that most of the calves destined for beef production come from this system (SOLORIO et al, 2016). High-starch diets affect microbial colonization and ruminal development (KHAN et al, 2008; Plainzier et al, 2012); it is important to include ingredients that boost microbial establishment and activity (Abubackr et al, 2014). This allows an adequate transition from a liquid to a solid forage-based diet, which in turn allows early weaning without any negative effects on daily weight gain (Rasby, 2007). This study evaluated the effect of calf starter intake on, ruminal development, productive responses and overall bacterial diversity of dual purpose calves in the tropics

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Conclusion