Abstract
Simple SummaryHigh levels of bioactive factors in colostrum may benefit the growth of dairy calves when provided after the loss of macromolecule absorption ability at the gastrointestinal level. We explored the effects of feeding two feedings of colostrum instead of only one on dairy calves and analyzed the impact of growth and disease during the pre-weaning period. Calf rearing accounts for a significant expense on farms. Therefore, raising calves without additional costs becomes important economically and for improving animal welfare. Feeding calves with two feedings of colostrum did not significantly affect growth but increased total serum protein in those calves.We studied the effect on average daily gain (ADG) and health of an additional colostrum feeding to Holstein dairy heifers 12–16 h after the first colostrum feeding, provided within 2 h of birth. Calves (n = 190) with an average birth weight of 38.8 kg (29.5–52.6 kg) were randomly enrolled in blocks to either the control (CON) or colostrum (COL). The CON received 3 L of acidified pasteurized whole milk, and the COL received 3 L of pasteurized colostrum [average: 25.5 (24.7–26.4)% Brix]. Calves were group-housed, weighed, withers height measured weekly. Serum was obtained and analyzed with a% Brix refractometer. Mixed linear models were used to assess the differences in ADG, body weight, and height between the treatment and control. There was no difference in ADG between the COL and CON. However, serum % Brix was higher in the COL group (9.7%) than in the CON group (9.2%). Calves in the COL had more antibiotic treatments for respiratory diseases but fewer antibiotic treatments for otitis than the CON. In conclusion, providing an extra feeding of colostrum did not contribute to ADG of Holstein heifers during the pre-weaning period but did provide them with a higher total serum protein concentration.
Highlights
Introduction iationsColostrum is the first milk secreted after parturition, and it has a greater concentration of antibodies that confers passive immunity to the neonatal calf [1]
Colostrum composition is found to be more intricate than just containing greater concentrations of immunoglobulins [2,3,4]
Our objective was to compare the benefits of providing calves with two feedings of colostrum 12–16 h apart to calves that get only one colostrum feeding, both feedings delivered via an esophageal tube
Summary
Colostrum is the first milk secreted after parturition, and it has a greater concentration of antibodies that confers passive immunity to the neonatal calf [1]. Colostrum composition is found to be more intricate than just containing greater concentrations of immunoglobulins [2,3,4]. The non-nutritive components include the immunoglobulins and bioactive factors such as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), glucagon-like peptides, oligosaccharides, glucocorticoids, growth hormones, and leptin [6]. Some of these factors may affect gastrointestinal growth signaling pathways [7,8]. Fischer et al, (2018) [9] demonstrated that calves fed with colostrum with greater concentrations of oligosaccharides had a greater
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