Liquid Milk Replacer Research Articles

Origines alimentaires et digestion des nutriments chez le veau préruminant

L’essentiel des nutriments nécessaires pour couvrir les besoins nutritionnels du veau préruminant est apporté par l’aliment d’allaitement formulé à base de diverses matières premières d’origine animale ou végétale. La connaissance de leur digestibilité est primordiale pour rationnaliser leur emploi. Cette synthèse fait le point sur les différentes sources de protéines, de matières grasses et de glucides utilisées dans les aliments d’allaitements des veux de boucherie. A partir de la description des processus digestifs pour les protéines, les lipides et les glucides dans le cas particulier du veau de boucherie, cette synthèse bibliographique montre que les matières premières d’origine laitière (poudre de lait écrémé, poudre de lactosérum, lactose) sont en général très bien digérées par le veau préruminant avec des coefficients d’utilisation digestive apparente supérieurs à 90% pour tous les nutriments. L’utilisation digestive d’autres matières premières, comme les concentrats de soja, les concentrés protéiques de pomme de terre ou le gluten de blé est plus variable, dépendant largement des traitements technologiques qui sont appliqués. Cependant, les valeurs de digestibilités sont élevées et indiquent que les matières premières d’origine végétale sont des alternatives intéressantes en substitution aux produits laitiers, surtout au-delà du premier mois de vie de l’animal.

Oral Delivery of L‐arginine Stimulates Prostaglandin‐dependent Secretory Diarrhea in Cryptosporidium parvum–infected Neonatal Piglets

To determine if oral supplementation with L-arginine could augment nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and promote epithelial defense in neonatal piglets infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Neonatal piglets were fed a liquid milk replacer and on day 3 of age infected or not with 10(8) C. parvum oocysts and the milk replacer supplemented with L-arginine or L-alanine. Milk consumption, body weight, fecal consistency, and oocyst excretion were recorded daily. On day 3 postinfection, piglets were euthanized and serum concentration of NO metabolites and histological severity of villous atrophy and epithelial infection were quantified. Sheets of ileal mucosa were mounted in Ussing chambers for measurement of barrier function (transepithelial resistance and permeability) and short-circuit current (an indirect measurement of Cl secretion in this tissue). C. parvum-infected piglets had large numbers of epithelial parasites, villous atrophy, decreased barrier function, severe watery diarrhea, and failure to gain weight. L-Arginine promoted synthesis of NO by infected piglets, which was unaccompanied by improvement in severity of infection but rather promoted epithelial chloride secretion and diarrhea. Epithelial secretion by infected mucosa from L-arginine-supplemented piglets was fully inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, indicating that prostaglandin synthesis was responsible for this effect. Results of these studies demonstrate that provision of additional NO substrate in the form of L-arginine incites prostaglandin-dependent secretory diarrhea and does not promote epithelial defense or barrier function of C. parvum-infected neonatal ileum.

Effect of environmental enrichment and breed line on the incidence of belly nosing in piglets weaned at 7 and 14 days-of-age

The effect of enrichment and breed line on belly nosing in early-weaned pigs was investigated over two studies. In a preliminary study, 291 piglets were weaned at 7 days-of-age and observed over two consecutive days (pigs ranged from 17 to 30 days-of-age at time of observation). Piglets were fed a liquid milk replacer diet for either 7 or 14 days following weaning. Pen environment was enriched by providing either an air-filled inner tube (Tube), rubber nipples in the feed trough (Nipple), or neither (Control). Pens were segregated by sex with 14–16 pigs per pen. Within pens, there were both Duroc and Yorkshire pigs. Instantaneous scan sampling by two observers was used to determine the incidence of belly nosing, belly sucking, and nosing and sucking other parts of the body. Yorkshire line pigs engaged in more belly sucking (3.97% versus 1.59%; P < 0.01), total sucking (4.30% versus 2.21%; P < 0.05), and belly-directed behaviour (9.2% versus 6.21%; P = 0.089) than did Duroc line pigs. Nipple enrichment effectively reduced the level of belly sucking, overall sucking and belly-directed behaviours in the Yorkshire line pigs, while Tube enrichment reduced other nosing and oral–nasal vices directed away from the belly in the Duroc line pigs. The second study investigated the effect of sire breed and sire within breed on the proportion of time early-weaned pigs spent belly nosing and belly sucking. Two hundred and forty-two crossbred pigs sired by Duroc ( n = 120) and Large White ( n = 122) boars were weaned at 14 days-of-age and observed at 18, 23, 28, 50, 63 and 91 days-of-age for belly nosing, belly sucking, other nosing and sucking, tail biting and other biting behaviours during the nursery and grow-finish phases of development. Continuous observations done live at 21 and 35 days-of-age were used to determine mean belly nosing and belly sucking bout durations. Pigs sired by Large White boars spent a greater proportion of time belly nosing (2.040%; P < 0.01) and belly sucking (0.440%; P < 0.01) compared with pigs sired by Duroc boars (1.597% and 0.308%, respectively). In contrast, Duroc-sired pigs spent a greater proportion of time conducting other nosing (0.356%; P < 0.01) and other sucking (2.496%; P < 0.001) behaviours compared with Large White-sired pigs (0.173% and 2.063%, respectively). Individual sire also had a significant effect on belly nosing ( P < 0.001), belly sucking ( P < 0.001) and other sucking ( P < 0.01) behaviours post-weaning. It was concluded that breed line differences may affect the incidence of nosing and sucking behaviours in early-weaned pigs, which may be reduced through the use of environmental enrichment tailored to the specific abnormal behaviours being performed.

Dietary Arginine Supplementation Enhances the Growth of Milk-Fed Young Pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary arginine supplementation on the growth of artificially reared piglets. The pigs (n = 24; 7 d old) were removed from sows to a nursery facility and assigned randomly to 1 of the 3 treatments representing diets supplemented with 0, 0.2, or 0.4% L-arginine (on the basis of milk replacer powder). Each milk feeder was assigned to 1 dietary treatment. Fresh liquid milk replacer (18.6% dry matter) was provided daily ( approximately 0800 h) to piglets. Body weights of piglets were measured and jugular venous blood samples were obtained for metabolite analysis at d 7, 14, and 21 of age. Food intake did not differ between control and arginine-supplemented piglets [66.7 vs. 69.5 g dry matter/(kg body wt. d)]. Compared with control piglets, dietary supplementation with 0.2 and 0.4% L-arginine dose dependently increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of arginine by 30 and 61%, and decreased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of ammonia by 20 and 35%, and those of urea by 19 and 33%, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 0.4% L-arginine also increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of insulin and growth hormone by 24-27% in piglets, compared with controls. Between 7 and 21 d of age, the supplementation of 0.2 and 0.4% L-arginine to piglets enhanced (P < 0.05) average daily weight gain by 28 and 66%, and body weight by 15 and 32%, respectively, compared with control piglets. Collectively, both the metabolic and growth data demonstrate unequivocally that arginine is deficient in milk-fed young pigs and that this arginine deficiency represents a major obstacle to maximal growth in piglets.

Nutritionally induced adipose hypertrophy in young pigs is transient and independent of changes in the expression of the obese and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor genes

Previous studies have shown that piglets weaned to a liquid milk replacer (MR), rather than a typical dry diet (DD) regimen, have improved growth rates and deposit more energy as body fat. In the present study, we used this model to determine whether changes in the expression of genes linked to the regulation of adiposity were related to the accelerated fat accretion. We also determined whether the increase in body fat was sustained throughout a substantial proportion of the growth curve. At weaning (19 ± 2 days of age), 96 piglets were placed in 12 replicate pens per diet (4 pigs per pen, 2 barrows and 2 gilts), and fed a liquid MR or conventional DD regimen for 5 weeks. Thereafter, 6 barrows and 6 gilts pigs from each diet were killed for determination of whole body chemical composition (less gastrointestinal contents). The remaining pigs were assigned randomly to weight target groups (60, 85, and 110 kg), placed in individual pens, and fed a conventional dietary regimen until killed at their respective weight targets for tissue sampling and determination of whole body chemical composition. Over the 5-week period in which the MR was fed, the growth rate of the pigs consuming the MR exceeded that of the pigs fed the DD by 36% (P < .05). Fat gain in these pigs was increased to 1.8 times that of the pigs fed the DD, and percentage body fat was 45% greater (P < .05). Acetyl Co-A carboxylase (ACC) activity (per mg of adipose extract protein) was not different between the two diet groups at the conclusion of the 5-week period, or at 110 kg body weight. During the MR period, actual protein gain was increased (P < .05) 22% in the pigs fed the MR as well. By 110 kg of body weight, body fat was reduced (P < .05) by 7.7% (total fat mass) and 8.3% (percentage of body weight basis) in the pigs fed MR vs. the DD group. The expression of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) α and γ was not influenced by diet or by body weight. Expression of the obese gene was independent of diet, but was greater (P < .09) in pigs at 110 kg body weight than at 60 kg. These data provide additional evidence that piglets weaned to liquid diets have greater rates of growth and deposit more body fat, but that this difference subsides quickly when a typical dry dietary regimen is imposed. Furthermore, the biochemical changes responsible for the increased adiposity are independent of changes in the expression of the obese or PPAR genes, at least at the mRNA level.

The effects of weaning weight and rate of growth immediately after weaning on subsequent pig growth performance and carcass characteristics

Effect of accelerated weight gain immediately after weaning on subsequent performance was evaluated in pigs with heavy and light weaning weights. The study was carried out as a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the treatments being weaning weight (Heavy vs. Light), post-weaning growth rate (Accelerated vs. Conventional) and sex (Barrow vs. Gilt). Pigs were weaned at 18 to 22 d of age, weighed and classified as either Heavy or Light (5.4 vs. 3.9 kg, SE ± 0.04). During the first 14 d after weaning, pigs on the Accelerated growth treatment were housed in a specialized nursery and provided with liquid milk replacer and a dry diet; pigs on the Conventional treatment were housed in a standard nursery and provided with a dry diet only. Subsequent to the 14 d post-weaning treatment period, pigs from all treatments were housed in standard accommodation and provided the same dietary regimen to slaughter weight (110 kg). Pigs on the Accelerated treatment were heavier (P &lt; 0.01) than pigs on the Conventional treatment at the end of the treatment period (9.2 vs. 8.1 kg, SE ± 0.13) and at 56 d of age (19.6 vs. 18.3 kg, SE ± 0.28). Early growth rate did not affect growth from 35 d of age to slaughter weight, or days to reach slaughter weight. Pigs on the Conventional treatment had greater (15.6 vs. 14.1 mm, SE ± 0.47, P &lt; 0.01) backfat depths at slaughter than those on the Accelerated treatment. Heavy pigs at weaning were heavier (P &lt; 0.001) at birth and 56 d of age than light pigs, and reached slaughter weight 8.6 d earlier (P &lt; 0.001). In summary, weaning weight, but not growth rate in the first 2 wk after weaning, influenced age at slaughter. Key words: Pigs, weaning weight, post-weaning growth rate, weaning management

Factors affecting water balance and fecal moisture content in suckling calves given dry feed.

Holstein bull calves were used to examine factors affecting water balance and fecal moisture content in suckling calves given dry feed for 2 wk from 1 wk of age. In Experiment 1 (n = 16), the shift of water balance (decreased urine volume, and increased water retention and fecal water excretion) and elevation of fecal moisture content were greatest when calf starter and Sudangrass hay were fed in addition to liquid milk replacer, compared with calves receiving only milk replacer. Intermediate changes occurred when calves were fed milk replacer and calf starter or milk replacer, calf starter, and rice straw. Water retention was correlated positively with digestible DMI and negatively with urine volume. Fecal water excretion was highly correlated with fecal DM excretion. In Experiment 2 (n = 18), water balance and fecal moisture content during wk 2 were affected by free access to calf starter and hay from wk 1. Urine volume of calves fed dry feed and milk replacer was lower than that of calves fed only milk replacer; however, when water was available in addition to dry feed, urine volume was similar to that of calves fed only milk replacer. Fecal water excretion was highly correlated with water retention rather than with fecal DM excretion, suggesting a close relationship to extracellular fluid volume. Ruminal fermentation would be an important factor affecting both water balance and fecal moisture content in suckling calves given dry feed.

Effect of Solid Feed on Water Balance in Suckling Calves Given Free Access to Water

Effects of solid feed on water balance of suckling calves were examined under three different conditions. Holstein bull calves (n=18) were divided into three groups of M, MS and MSW. The M received only 3.6l/d of liquid milk replacer containing 500-g dry milk replacer for 2wk from 1wk of age. The MS was given free access to solid feed (concentrate and Sudangrass hay) in addition to the milk replacer, and MSW was allowed to drink water in addition to solid feed and milk replacer during this period. As a result, water balance differed among the three groups. Urine volume tended to be larger in M and MSW than in MS. Apparent water retention, fecal water excretion, and fecal moisture content were higher in MS and MSW than in M, although significant differences were not detected between MS and MSW. Fecal water excretion was highly correlated with apparent water retention.

Time and Temperature Survivability of PRRS Virus in Serum and Tissues

Currently, definitive diagnosisof this disease depends on isolation of PRRS virus fromclinically ill animals. Harsh environmental conditions duringshipment of samples to a diagnostic laboratory could resultin inactivation of the virus and preclude virus isolation.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability ofPRRS virus in serum and tissues under the typical time andtemperature conditions of transportation of samples fromthe field to a laboratory.Five 7-day-old piglets were placed on nursery decks in ananimal isolation room at Purdue University School of Vet-erinary Medicine and fed a liquid milk replacer

Studies on the uptake, partition and retention of ionic and fallout radiocaesium by suckling and weaned lambs

In the first part of this study 9 one week old lambs were fed, ad libitum , a liquid milk replacer diet containing 950 Bq 137Cs kg −1, for a period of 21 days. Absorption of the 137Cs from the milk replacer was over 90% during this period. The lambs were weaned onto a silage diet and then allocated to 2 groups (A and B). Group A was fed silage contaminated with fallout radiocaesium and group B with the same silage additionally contaminated with ionic 134CsCl. After a 3 week period the diets offered were changed over between the groups. During the silage feeding period the uptake of added ionic 134Cs was approximately twice that of fallout 134Cs present in the silage. These studies highlight the difficulties in using studies with the ionic form of the isotope to predict the animals' response to fallout contaminated feed.

Xylitol, polyol molasses and glucose in the diet of newborn calves: I. Effect on growth and some blood values

In a feeding trial with 18 calves, three carbohydrate additions were compared in a liquid milk replacer diet: glucose, xylitol and polyol molasses (PM). The average consumption of substrates was 41, 42 and 48 g dry matter of glucose, xylitol or polyol molasses per day. After one week of colostrum and whole milk feeding, liquid milk replacer was given 12 % of live weight. The trial lasted to the age of 5 weeks. Daily live weight gain was 452, 479 and 425 g in the glucose, xylitol and PM groups(n.s.), respectively. Intake of concentrates was greater in female than male calves (P &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the feed conversion rate between the groups: 1.83, 1.88 and 1.98 kg dry matter/kg live weight gain in the glucose, xylitol and PM groups, respectively. Venous blood samples were taken before the first feeding after birth, then 1, 2, and 4 days, and 1, 3 and 5 weeks after birth. Haemoglobin and haematocrit were higher in the glucose than in the xylitol and PM groups, and higher in female than male calves (P &lt; 0.05). There were no differences between the groups in plasma glucose, calcium or magnesium contents. Plasma urea-N was lower in the xylitol than in the glucose group (P &lt; 0.05). Plasma inorganic phosphorus was higher in the xylitol than in the glucose group on week one and three after birth, the difference being significant at 3 weeks of age (P &lt; 0.05).

Plasma glucose and insulin responses to propionate in preruminating calves.

Eighteen preruminating calves obtained at approximately 38 d of age were used to determine whether the ruminant insulin response to propionate is an inherent response or one that is acquired because of ruminal propionate production. A liquid milk replacer diet was fed alone or with isocaloric additions of propionate [50 mmol . (kg BW . 75-1 . d-1] or glucose. Both additions caused a strong insulin response, but the response by propionate-fed calves appeared to be independent of plasma glucose concentrations during the early post-feeding hours. After receiving the experimental diets for 18 d, all calves were given an iv infusion or propionate [.035 mmol propionate . (kg BW . 75-1 . min-1 for 20 min]. All calves demonstrated a plasma insulin rise and glucose decline due to the infusions, but glucose-fed and propionate-fed calves appeared less sensitive to the iv propionate than the calves fed only milk replacer.

Effect of Age and of Dietary Regime on Hemoglobin and Reducing-Sugar Levels in the Blood of Dairy Calves1,2

Summary Twelve male and 12 female Holstein calves were fed limited whole milk for 6 wk. and liquid milk replacer for from 3 to 12 wk. by nipple pail. Half the calves of each sex received a milk replacer containing dried skimmilk, dextrose, distillers dried solubles, and soybean oil meal; the others received a similar replacer minus the distillers solubles. Hay and starter were fed to females for 12 wk. and to males after 7 wk. The males were on screens (no bedding) for the first 7 wk. Hemoglobin levels in the females declined to 5 wk. and increased thereafter; values for the males declined for 9 wk. Hemoglobin values for calves fed distillers dried solubles were significantly higher than those for the other calves. Whole blood reducing-sugar values declined for 8 wk., and limiting some of the calves (males) to a liquid diet fed by nipple did not alter appreciably the nature of these trends. Most of the reducing sugar was in the plasma, where trends were similar to those of whole blood. Packed-cell volumes were relatively constant, but reducing-sugar content of the cells decreased steadily and approached zero at 8 wk.