Abstract
Simple SummaryThe positive effects of nucleotide (NU) supplementation in milk replacer have been elucidated in infants and partly in dairy calves; however, NU addition to whole milk has not been evaluated yet. In this study, a NU-containing supplement was added to whole milk at rate of 0.5 and 1 g/d. Without any effects on pre-weaning performance, post-weaning intake was improved as NU increased and final body weight was greater in NU supplemented calves. Nucleotide supplementation to whole milk linearly decreased days with loose feces in the first month of life. These results show that NU has beneficial effect on calf health status and intake even if it is supplemented to whole milk.The positive effects of nucleotide (NU) supplementation in milk replacer have been elucidated in infants and in dairy calves; however, NU addition to whole milk has not been evaluated previously. This study aimed to assess NU supplementation in the whole milk on calf growth and health. Thirty Holstein calves (body weight: 39.1 ± 1.0 kg; 3 d after birth) were randomly assigned to the following treatments: whole milk without any supplementation (NU0), whole milk + 0.5 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS0.5), and whole milk + 1 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS1). Calves were weaned at d 55 and stayed on study until d 75. Calves had free access to feed and water throughout the study. Dry matter intakes (DMI) were similar among treatments (p > 0.05) during the pre-weaning period; however, increasing NU resulted in a linear (p < 0.05) increase in DMI during the post weaning period (2158, 2432, and 2518 g/d for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Treatments did not affect body weight (BW) at the first and second month of study, but final BW linearly increased as NU was added (87.1, 90.6, and 95.4 kg for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Neither pre-weaning average daily gain nor post-weaning average daily gain was affected by treatments; accordingly, feed efficiency was similar among treatment groups. Days with loose fecal score were linearly decreased as NU was added to whole milk during the first month of life, while the fecal score did not differ among treatments until the end of the study. No difference was observed in the skeletal growth of calves in the current study. Therefore, it can be concluded that NU supplementation in the whole milk has some beneficial effects on calf performance in terms of final BW, post-weaning DMI, and less days with loose feces.
Highlights
Nucleotides are members of non-protein nitrogen compounds that are found in many foods such as seafood, legumes, and organ meats
Treatments had no effect on post-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency, but starter intake was linearly increased as NU was supplemented (p < 0.04); because of that, the final body weight (BW) linearly improved in NU supplemented calves (p < 0.02)
Considering the greater tendency of NU fed calves to eat more starter feed when they approached to weaning, it appears that the beneficial effect of NU on starter intake has postponed to the post-weaning period
Summary
Nucleotides are members of non-protein nitrogen compounds that are found in many foods such as seafood, legumes, and organ meats. Nucleotides supplementation in the diet of ruminants has attracted attention during the last years [1]. These are the functional ingredients that improve animal performance and their beneficial effects in animal health caused them to become required items in the diet of dairy cattle [1]. When the endogenous supply is insufficient, exogenous nucleotide sources tend to become semi-essential or “conditionally essential” nutrients [2]. This is true for infants and pre-weaning dairy calves [1,3]
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