The effects of colostrum consumption and feed restriction during marketing and transportation of male dairy beef calves: Impact on pre-transport nutritional status and on farm recovery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of colostrum consumption and feed restriction on biomarkers of stress, nutritional and health status, gut functionality, and behavior in male dairy beef calves being marketed and transported. A total of 82 male Holstein calves [42 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 14 ± 0.9 d of age] were used to study the amount of colostrum given at birth at the dairy farm of origin, the degree of feed restriction suffered at an assembly center simulation (d -4 to d -1), and the effects of a 19 h transportation (d -1). Treatments were as follows: control calves (CTRL; n = 16) were fed 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, milk replacer (MR) and concentrate at the assembly center, and were not transported; high colostrum-milk replacer fed calves (HCMR; n = 17) were fed 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, MR at the assembly center, and were transported; high colostrum-rehydrating solution fed calves (HCRS; n = 16) were fed 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, a rehydrating solution (RS) at the assembly center, and were transported; low colostrum-milk replacer fed calves (LCMR; n = 17), were fed 2 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, MR at the assembly center, and were transported; and low colostrum-rehydrating solution fed calves (LCRS; n = 16) were fed 2 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, RS at the assembly center, and were transported. Transported calves mimic a 19 h long transportation. After transport, all calves were fed 2.5 L of MR twice daily and had ad libitum access to concentrate, straw, and water. Calves' recovery was followed during 7 d. Concentrate intake and health records were collected daily from d -4 until d 7 and BW and blood samples were collected on d - 4, - 1, 0, 1, 2, and 7 of the study. Results showed that the feeding regimen provided at the assembly center reduced BW for the HCRS and LCRS calves compared with the CTRL, HCMR, and LCMR calves. Concentrate intake peaked on d 0 in the transported calves followed by a drop in intake on d 1 after transportation. Concentrate intake recovery was lower for the LCRS and LCMR calves. On d -1, nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greater for the HCRS and LCRS calves compared with the CTRL, HCMR, and HCRS calves. After transportation, serum Cr-EDTA concentration was greater for the HCRS and LCRS calves than the HCMR, LCMR, and CTRL calves. The LCRS calves had the lowest serum concentration of citrulline. Finally, health scores were greater for the LCRS calves from d 0 to d 7. In summary, both the greatest degree of feed restriction during the assembly center and the low colostrum consumption at birth negatively affected the recovery of concentrate consumption and BW, gut functionality, health status, and behavior in calves after arrival at the rearing farm.