Milk Feeding Program Research Articles

The evolution of calf nutrition

The milk-feeding period is a front and center welfare concern, as well as a huge economic opportunity for producers and veteri­narians alike. Calf nutrition has progressed from a simple, one-size-fits-all approach to a more sophisticated understanding of the role that early nutrition has in health and future productivity. Still, calves are the only age group where it is not routine to have a nutritionist who formulates the diet, provides feedback and evaluation of animal performance, and is responsible for out­comes of the program. Veterinarians could step in to provide this service. In this presentation, I discuss what incorporating calf nutrition into a dairy practice might look like, as well as some tools available to help accomplish it. Topics discussed include the role and economic value of improving early feed efficiency; research on the value of early nutrition for health and future pro­ductivity; and tips and strategies to implement increased milk feeding programs, including starter and weaning management.

Preweaned dairy calf nutrition: Veterinarian’s role in a milk feeding program

The herd veterinarian has an important role on calf raising op­erations to promote the health and welfare of calves through having a role in the milk phase nutrition program. Optimal nutrition will benefit the calves and the herd veterinarian can help provide input and critique of a milk program using their expertise in animal health, husbandry, nutrition and behav­ior. Milk feeding of calves, traditionally around 60 days, has been shown to have long term production benefits for adult dairy cows, and yet often the milk feeding plan is delegated to a private or feed company nutritionist. This paper describes tools and best practices for herd veterinarians to ensure young calves are fed appropriately to meet their genetic potential and the dairy producer’s goals. Even if the herd veterinarian does not have overall authority of a milk program, they can use the best practices to align producer expectations with what is be­ing offered to the calves and give their impartial input of how to best apply the producer’s resources in a feeding program for the benefit of the calves.

Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal solids per day from high-solids milk and milk replacer blend once or twice daily combined with dry versus wet fine-particle starter diet

This study examined the effects of frequency of feeding high-solids milk and milk replacer (MMR) blend combined with dry matter (DM) content of starter feed on the performance of dairy calves. Forty-eight Holstein calves (40.2 ± 3.33 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized design. Based on a combination of 2 MMR feeding frequencies (once versus twice daily) and 2 starter DM levels (91.1 and 50% DM), 4 treatments were designed as (1) once daily + dry starter feed (OD), (2) once daily + wet starter feed (OW), (3) twice daily + dry starter feed (TD), and (4) twice daily + wet starter feed (TW). The amount of milk replacer powder added to whole milk was adjusted at each feeding frequency to ensure that calves received similar solids from the MMR blend via the twice-daily (total solids = 18.6%) or once-daily (total solids = 31.0%) programs. Starter intake in the preweaning period did not differ between treatments (average 0.39 kg of DM/d), but the postweaning starter intake was greater in calves fed the wet starter (OW and TW) than in those fed the dry starter (OD and TD). Calves receiving the high-solids MMR blend twice versus once daily grew faster before weaning, which was reflected by a greater weaning weight in the TD and TW groups (88.9 kg) than in the OD and OW groups (83.2 kg). The daily growth rate after weaning did not differ between treatments and averaged 1.15 kg/d. Gain-to-feed ratio during the preweaning period was greater in calves from TD and TW (mean 0.67) than in calves from the OD or OW groups (mean 0.58). Postweaning gain-to-feed ratio was not different among treatments and averaged 0.38. Days to first diarrhea and duration of diarrhea (4.66 ± 0.38), as well as days that animals were treated with antibiotics, remained unaffected with treatments. Although preweaning body weight gain was lower with once-daily milk feeding, calves were twice as heavy at weaning as at birth in both milk feeding programs regardless of starter moisture content, which may qualify the once-daily milk feeding program as a cost-effective management strategy in commercial calf-rearing operations. Feeding solutions with a high solids content (above 15%) may be associated with an increased risk of abomasal bloat and should be used with caution.

Effect of plane of nutrition and analgesic drug treatment on wound healing and pain following cautery disbudding in preweaning dairy calves

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a biologically normal plane of nutrition compared with a limited plane on the primary outcome wound healing, and one dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) compared with 2 on the secondary outcomes: lying behavior, haptoglobin concentrations, and mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) in calves disbudded via cautery iron. Eighty female Holstein calves were enrolled at birth, individually housed, and fed via a Calf Rail system (Förster Technik). A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to assess the effect of plane of nutrition and an additional NSAID. Calves were randomly assigned to a biologically normal plane of nutrition (BN; offered up to 15 L/d) or a limited plane (LP; offered up to 6 L/d) and to receive one or 2 doses of meloxicam. All calves received a lidocaine cornual nerve block and a subcutaneous injection of meloxicam 15 min before cautery disbudding at 18 to 25 d of age, and half the calves received an additional injection of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) 3 d after disbudding. Tissue type present, wound diameter, and wound depth were evaluated 2 times per week for 7 to 8 wk as measures of wound healing, lying behavior was recorded beginning 1 to 2 wk before disbudding until 7 to 8 wk after as a behavioral indicator of pain, haptoglobin concentrations were measured once per day for 7 d after disbudding, and MNT was evaluated 2 times/wk for 3 wk. Survival analyses were analyzed using Cox regression models (wound healing) and continuous data were analyzed using mixed-effect linear regression models. Only 12% of horn buds were completely healed by 7 to 8 wk after disbudding and 54% had re-epithelized at this time. At any time, wounds from BN calves were more likely to have had re-epithelization occur compared with wounds from LP calves (hazard ratio: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.18-3.14). Wounds from calves that received only one dose of NSAID were more likely to have re-epithelization occur, compared with wounds from calves given 2 doses (hazard ratio: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.15-3.05). Wounds from BN calves had smaller diameters and depths over time beginning on wk 3 compared with LP calves. Wounds from calves that received an additional NSAID had larger diameters and depths over time beginning on wk 4 and 3 respectively, compared with calves that only received one dose of NSAID. Calves that received an extra NSAID tended to be less sensitive 7, 10, and 17 d after disbudding compared with calves that only received one dose and spent less time lying in the week after disbudding. Calves on the BN milk program were more active compared with LP calves with lower lying times, fewer lying bouts per day, and longer average lying bouts. Our results indicate that a BN milk feeding program for calves can result in faster healing times and more activity, and that providing an extra NSAID 3 d after disbudding appears to slow the healing process but may result in less pain experienced by the calf 1 to 2 wk after the procedure. This study is also among the first to demonstrate that after the complete removal of the horn bud, wounds can take more than 8 weeks to re-epithelize and fully heal.

Effects of milk replacer supplementation to whole milk fed to Holstein dairy calves during the first month of life on intake, performance, and health under 2 feeding programs

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding milk replacer to milk fed to calves during their first month of life on intake, performance, and health under 2 milk feeding programs. Materials and Methods Sixty female Holstein calves were blocked at birth by dam parity and assigned in a randomized block design to 1 of 4 treatments (n = 15/treatment). Calves were fed whole milk under either a conventional (CF) or a step-up/step-down (SF) feeding program for 8 wk. Both feeding programs were tested with (+MR) and without 0.5 kg/d of milk replacer during the first 28 d. Results and Discussion The maximum rate of liquid feed supply was ~1.5 kg of DM. No difference in intake was found during the last week of the experiment. Daily gain varied among treatments. Heifers on SF+MR were the heaviest at the end of the experiment, although they were not different from those on CF+MR. There was no difference in final BW between CF+MR and SF. No difference in diarrhea status was observed. Implications and Applications Under the conditions of this experiment, calves achieved greater nutrient intake by concentrating the milk feeding during the first month, inducing a greater daily gain during the entire liquid feeding period, neither compromising starter intake at weaning nor affecting diarrhea incidence. Milk replacer supplementation only during the first month of life can be used under both feeding programs, with the conventional being more practical and less time consuming.

A Comparative Interrupted Times Series on the Health Impact of Probiotic Yogurt Consumption Among School Children From Three to Six Years Old in Southwest Uganda.

Introduction: Following a school milk feeding program in Southwest Uganda, we initiated a probiotic yogurt school feeding program in the same region in 2018. In order to investigate the potential health benefits from probiotic yogurt we conducted an observational study, where we compared the effect of the consumption of locally produced probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus yoba 2012 to milk in pre-primary schoolchildren from different schools on the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (common cold) and skin infections (e.g., tinea capitis).Method: A comparative interrupted time series over a period of 3 weeks of baseline followed by 9 weeks of 100 ml of probiotic yogurt or milk consumption for 5 days per week. In total 584 children attending five different schools were followed during consumption of probiotic yogurt and 532 children attending five other schools during consumption of milk. Incidences of respiratory tract infection symptoms and skin infection symptoms, changes in anthropometric indicators and absenteeism were recorded.Results: Over the course of the study period the incidence rate for common cold symptoms decreased faster in the yogurt group than in the milk group (p = 0.09) resulting in a final RR of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.5–1.4) at the end of the observational period. The incidence rate of skin infection related symptoms also reduced faster in the yogurt group compared to the milk group (p < 0.0001) resulting in a relative risk factor (RR) of 0.6 (CI: 0.4–0.9) at the end of the observational period. Anthropometric indicators and level of absenteeism did not show significant differences between yogurt and milk.Conclusion: Notwithstanding the observed positive trend and effect of probiotic yogurt on the incidences of common cold and skin infections, respectively, we consider the results of this comparative interrupted time series inconclusive due to differences in the recorded health parameters between the probiotic yogurt and milk control groups at base line, and fluctuations over the course of the intervention period. An improved study design, with more uniform study groups, a longer intervention period and a third control group without yogurt or milk is required to draw definitive conclusions.

Dukungan Ibu Kandung, Mertua dan Suami dengan Praktek Asi Eksklusif (0-6 Bulan) di Kampung Sereh Wilayah Puskesmas Sentani Papua

Health profil data of Jayapura Regency, Papua in 2014 is showed the scope of mother’s milk-feeding only 40,28%. It is increasing than in 2012 that only 28,78%. It is showed that exclusive mother’s milk-feeding program in Jayapura City is not success. Purpose of this study is for knowing relationship between the biological mother support, parent-in-law, and husband with exclusive mother’s milk-feeding practice (0-6 months) in Kampung Sereh Wilaya Puskesmas Sentani Papua. This study is analytic applying retrospective approach with case control study design, samples of this study are 69 that determined by random, which is divided into 2 groups, those are, case group (exclusive mother’s milk- feeding) and control group (not exclusive mother’s milk-feeding). Method of collecting data is applying direct interview using questionnaire sheet. Statistical analysis used Chi-Square. There are significant relationship between support of biological mother support (p=0,006), mother-in-law (p = 0,000), and husband (p = 0,007), on practice of exclusive mother’s milk-feeding. Support of biological mother, mother-in-law, and husband has a good support on practice of exclusive mother’s milk-feeding. Keywords : Biological Mother, parent-in-law, husband, Exclusive Mother’s Milk-feeding.

Feeding Pasteurized Waste Milk to Preweaned Dairy Calves Changes Fecal and Upper Respiratory Tract Microbiota.

In the present study bacterial communities from both, the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract of pre-weaned dairy calves fed two different milk-feeding programs were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Twenty female Holstein calves (38.8 ± 1.40 kg of BW) were fed pasteurized waste milk (pWM) containing residues of various antimicrobials. Twenty additional calves (38.1 ± 1.19 kg of BW) were fed milk replacer (MR) with similar nutrient composition (27.5% crude protein, 32.1% fat) compared to waste milk (28.6% crude protein, 30.0% fat) from day 1 to weaning at day 49 of study. Fecal samples and nasal swabs were collected on day 42 only from calves that were not treated with therapeutic antibiotics throughout the study, which were 8 MR and 10 pWM calves. To assess the impact of the two feeding regimes on the fecal and nasal microbiota, α and β-diversity measures were calculated, and the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at different taxonomic levels was determined for each sample. In general, Chao1, PD Whole Tree, and Shannon diversity indices were similar for the fecal and nasal bacterial communities of calves regardless of the feeding regime. However, principal coordinate analysis based on unweighted Unifrac distances indicated differences in the structure of bacterial communities of calves fed milk replacer compared with those from calves fed pasteurized waste milk. The relative abundance of the Streptococcaceae family and the genus Histophilus was greater (P < 0.05) in the nasal microbiota of calves fed milk replacer than in those fed pasteurized waste milk. However, the genus Prevotella tended (P = 0.06) to be more relatively abundant in the respiratory tract of calves fed pasteurized waste milk than in those fed milk replacer. Differences in relative abundances of bacterial taxa in gut microbiota were only observed at the phylum level, suggesting that antimicrobial residues present in waste milk have a non-specific influence at a lower taxonomical level.

Current perspectives on the short- and long-term effects of conventional dairy calf raising systems: a comparison with the natural environment.

Although the neonatal and infancy period is short, it is well documented that the early neonatal environment is critical for appropriate physical, behavioral, and cognitive development that lasts into adulthood. Dairy calves are commonly removed from the dam shortly after birth and raised in individual housing and fed limited milk allowances (4 to 6 L/d) in commercial farms around the world (conventional raising). Individual housing was developed to promote health status and facilitate individual animal monitoring. However, it is associated with high labor demand, and early life social isolation is associated with cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. Recently, group housing and enhanced milk-feeding programs are being increasingly adopted by farms; these practices more closely resemble the social and nutritional environments in natural or seminatural environments when the calf is raised with the dam. Conventional raising may lead to short- and long-term effects when compared to calves raised with the dam or peers. Short-term effects of conventional raising include impaired social skills when introduced to novel peers, reduced consumption of novel feeds, increased activity in a novel environment, and signs of hunger associated with limited milk intake and poor growth during the preweaning period. Evidence also suggests that the long-term effects of conventional artificial raising systems include behavioral differences, such as lower social submissiveness, increased heart rate and cortisol when presented with a novel environment, and production differences such as milk yield and reproductive performance. However, research on the long-term effects of maternal, social, physical, and nutritional restrictions in early life is still limited and should be encouraged. More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of artificial raising systems (individual, group housing, dam-raised) on future behavior, cognition, performance, and health parameters in dairy calves.

PSXII-28 The influence of age at arrival in the design of milk-feeding program on concentrate consumption and performance in milk-fed Holstein bull calves from auction markets.

PSXII-28 The influence of age at arrival in the design of milk-feeding program on concentrate consumption and performance in milk-fed Holstein bull calves from auction markets.

Effects of milk replacer acidification and free-access feeding on early life feeding, oral, and lying behavior of dairy calves

Acidification is a practical way of preserving the bacteriological quality of milk so that it can be fed to calves under free-access conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate how milk replacer acidification and free-access feeding affect dairy calf behavior during the first week of life. Sixteen Holstein male calves were purchased at birth and transported to the University of Guelph Kemptville Campus Dairy Education and Research Centre. Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 milk feeding programs: (1) free-access (ad libitum) feeding of acidified milk replacer (22% crude protein and 17% fat, 150 g/L; FA); (2) restricted (6 L/d, 150 g/L) feeding of acidified milk replacer (RA); (3) free-access feeding of nonacidified milk replacer (FN); and (4) restricted feeding of nonacidified milk replacer (RN). Formic acid was used to acidify milk replacer to a target pH between 4.0 and 4.5. Video recordings of each calf at 1, 2, and 6 d were analyzed continuously over 24 h for all occurrences of each behavior in the ethogram. Feeding behavior observations were organized into sucking bouts, from which feeding behavior outcome variables were calculated. Calves consuming acidified milk replacer demonstrated more fragmented feeding patterns, characterized by more pauses within a sucking bout (FA, FN, RA, and RN calves = 12.4, 4.4, 13.7, and 11.9 pauses/bout, respectively) and longer sucking bout duration (FA, FN, RA, and RN calves = 8.8, 5.2, 9.3, and 8.1 min/bout, respectively), than calves fed nonacidified milk replacer. Restricted-fed calves tended to have longer sucking bouts and performed more within-bout sucks (FA, FN, RA, and RN calves = 10.7, 5.8, 13.5, and 14.1, respectively) and pauses than free-access calves. Acidification and free-access feeding did not affect lying duration. Calves assigned to the acidified feeding treatments tended to perform more grooming behavior than those fed nonacidified milk replacer (FA, FN, RA, and RN calves = 0.9, 0.5, 0.8, and 0.6 h/d, respectively). Free-access feeding did not affect grooming duration. The observed differences in feeding and grooming behavior suggest that acidification to a pH between 4.0 and 4.5 may have altered the palatability of milk replacer. Calves assigned to the acidified milk replacer feeding treatments did not, however, show avoidance toward this feedstuff during the first week of life.

Effects of ad libitum milk replacer feeding and butyrate supplementation on behavior, immune status, and health of Holstein calves in the postnatal period

Animal welfare in dairy calf husbandry depends on calf rearing and is probably improved by intensive milk feeding programs. In addition, butyrate supplementation in milk replacer (MR) stimulates postnatal growth and may affect the immune system in calves. We have investigated the combined effects of ad libitum MR feeding and butyrate supplementation on feeding behavior, health, and the immune responses in calves. Holstein calves (n = 64) were examined from birth until wk 11 of age. Calves received MR either ad libitum (Adl) or restrictively (Res) with (AdlB+, ResB+) or without (AdlB-, ResB-) 0.24% butyrate supplementation starting on d 4. From wk 9 to 10, all calves were gradually weaned and were fed 2 L/d until the end of the trial. Concentrate, hay, and water were freely available. Calves were housed in straw-bedded group pens with automatic MR feeders, where feed intake and feeding behavior were documented. Blood was drawn on d 1 before the first colostrum intake; on d 2, 4, and 7; and weekly thereafter until the end of the study to measure plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, the immunoglobulins IgG1, IgG2, and IgM, and the acute phase proteins fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, and haptoglobin. Liver samples were taken on d 50 and 80 to determine gene expression related to acute phase proteins. Body temperature was measured daily for the first 3 wk, and clinical traits were scored daily. Ad libitum MR feeding resulted in greater MR intake, greater MR intake per meal, slower sucking rate, and greater body weight, but in a lower number of unrewarded visits and lower concentrate intake when compared with Res. Butyrate reduced the sucking rate but increased MR intake per meal. Immunoglobulins in the blood plasma increased after colostrum intake in all calves, with only minor differences among groups throughout the study. Plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A increased in the first week of life in all calves, and fibrinogen was greater in Res than in Adl on d 21, 49, and 63. Hepatic gene expression of fibrinogen on d 80 was greater in Adl than in Res. Gene expression of SAA2 was greater on d 50 in Adl than in Res and on d 80 was greater in ResB+ than in ResB-. Body temperature was greater in Adl than in Res during the first 2 wk, but neither MR feeding nor butyrate affected the health status. An improved animal welfare in Adl calves is supported by fewer signs of hunger, but intensive milk feeding and butyrate did not affect the health and immune status of the calves in a consistent manner.

Evaluation of an accelerated growth program for pre-weaned Shall lambs

In order to evaluate the effect of source and amount of milk delivered to lambs on their performance, thirty newborn Shall male lambs (4.76±0.31kg) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) conventional whole milk feeding program at 10% of body weight (CWM); 2) conventional milk replacer feeding at 10% of body weight and 17.1% milk solid (MRC); 3) accelerated milk replacer feeding program at 20% of body weight and 21% milk solid (MRA). Lambs were weaned at 56 d of age and the experiment finished 2 week after weaning. Milk and solid feed intakes were individually recorded on a daily basis. As the experiment advanced, the solid feed consumption (P<0.01) and average daily gain (ADG; P<0.01) increased, but MRC fed lambs had a decreased ADG compared to CWM or MRA groups in the pre-weaning (94g/day vs. 140 and 155g/day, respectively), but not in post-weaning, phase. The accelerated program led to decreased solid feed intake in the MRA group while the other lambs had similar starter intake, though total dry matter intake was greater in MRA compared with others. The CWM group had the best gain:feed ratio, resulting in similar final body weights as the MRA group and greater body weights compared with MRC lambs. Circulating β-hydroxy butyric acid was decreased (P<0.01) in MRA lambs compared with lambs on the traditional program during pre-weaning, but not post-, weaning period. In conclusion, it appears that lambs can be artificially reared on very low fat MRA program with greatly improved ADG during the first month of life, but, without altering final performance.

Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal quantities of milk at fixed or variable amounts per day during milk-feeding period

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding equal quantities of milk during the pre-weaning period through different milk-feeding regimes on calf growth, starter intake and selected blood metabolites. In experiment 1, 44 female Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.2±4.3 kg of BW) were distributed randomly to one of two milk-feeding programs (1 calf per pen; 22 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; 6 l/day of milk from days 3 to 60 and 3 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age) or (2) step-up/step-down (SUSD; 5 l/day of milk from days 3 to 15, 8 l/day from days 16 to 40, 6 l/day from days 41 to 50, 3 l/day from days 51 to 60 and then 2 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age). No difference between treatments was observed in starter consumption, feed efficiency, hip width and heart girth. However, pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) tended to be greater in CONS than in SUSD calves (0.78 v. 0.70 kg/day; P=0.07). Blood β-hydroxybutyrate at day 45 (pre-weaning) was lower in SUSD than in CONS calves (0.14 v. 0.21±0.013 mmol/l). In experiment 2, 26 male Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.4±4.1 kg of BW) were assigned at random to one of two milk-feeding protocols (1 calf per pen; 13 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; (7 l/day of milk from days 3 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age) or (2) step-down (STD; 8 l/day of milk from days 3 to 30, 4 l/day from days 31 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age). The milk-feeding program had no effect on the performance measurements, with the exception that ADG (days 15 to 30), starter intake (days 30 to 45) and heart girth (day 45) were greater in STD than in CONS calves. In conclusion, it appears that if the total amount of milk intake is held constant over the course of milk-feeding period, the method of milk feeding would have negligible effects on calf performance.

Effects of Feeding Milk Replacer Ad Libitum or in Restricted Amounts for the First Five Weeks of Life on the Growth, Metabolic Adaptation, and Immune Status of Newborn Calves.

The pre-weaning period is critical for calf health and growth, and intensive milk feeding programs may assist postnatal development by improving body growth and organ maturation. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of ad libitum milk replacer (MR) feeding on the growth, metabolic adaptation, health, and immune status of newborn calves. Twenty-eight newborn Holstein and Holstein x Charolais crossbred calves were fed ad libitum (ADLIB) or in restricted amounts (6 liters per day; RES) during the first five weeks of life. The MR intake in the ADLIB treatment was gradually reduced at weeks 6 and 7, and all calves then received 6 liters of MR per day until day 60. Blood samples were collected to measure the plasma concentrations of metabolites, insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding proteins (IGFBP), immunoglobulins, and acute phase proteins. The expression of mRNA associated with both the somatotropic axis and gluconeogenic enzymes was measured in the liver on day 60. Intensive feeding improved MR intake and growth in ADLIB without influencing concentrate intake. Carcass weight, perirenal fat, and muscle mass were greater in ADLIB. Plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, insulin, and IGF-I were greater, whereas plasma concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate, total protein, albumin, urea, IGFBP-2 and -4, and fibrinogen were lower at distinct time points in ADLIB. The hepatic mRNA expression of cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was greater in ADLIB. Most metabolic and endocrine differences occurred during the MR feeding period, but a slightly greater concentrate intake was associated with increased plasma IGF-I and insulin at the end of the study. The immune and health status of the calves were not affected by MR feeding. However, increased plasma fibrinogen in the RES group suggested differences in the acute phase response.

1232 Impact of milk-feeding programs on fecal bacteria population and antimicrobial resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from feces in preweaned calves

1232 Impact of milk-feeding programs on fecal bacteria population and antimicrobial resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from feces in preweaned calves

Comparison of two different milk feeding schedules on growth performance of holstein calves during the pre-weaning period

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of two different milk feeding schedules on growth performance of Holstein calves. Fourteen Holstein calves were housed in individual boxes. Calves were divided into 2 groups (n= 7); first group was fed with whole milk with the amount of 10% of their body weight (Conventional Milk Feeding Program= CFP), while second group was fed with whole milk adjusted weekly according to their body weight (Adjusted Weekly Feeding Program= AFP), started from 7%. The experiment was applied on 4-days-old calves after colostrum feeding and weaned while calves were 56 days old. Final BW was found very close in each group (59.13± 1.15vs 57.38± 1.05 kg, respectively in CFP and AFP). Starter DMI was numerically greater in CFP compared to AFP during the pre-weaning period (0.860 ± 0.16 vs 0.754 ± 0.16 kg/d, respectively). Body measurements (BMs) were similar during the pre-weaning period in each group excluding Chest Girth (CG). Although the numerical differences were found among groups BW, BMs, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Fecal score, these differences were not significant. The calves’ performance and health were not affected by the level of milk feeding during the pre-weaning period.

Improving smallholder livelihoods: Dairy production in Tanzania

Tanzania is primarily an agro-based economy, characterized by subsistence agricultural production that employs more than 80% of the population and contributes up to 45% of the GDP (2005). This country is endowed with a cattle population of 21.3 M, composed mainly of indigenous Zebu breeds and about 680 000 improved dairy animals. About 70% of the milk produced comes from the traditional sector (indigenous cattle) kept in rural areas, while the remaining 30% comes from improved cattle, mainly kept by smallholder producers. In Northern Tanzania and particularly in Hai district of Kilimanjaro Region, some dairy farmers organize themselves into small producer groups for the purpose of milk collecting, marketing and general promotion of the dairy sector in their community. Nronga Women Dairy Cooperative Society (NWDCS) Limited is one of such organizations dedicated to improve the well-being of the Nronga village community through promoting small-scale dairy farming and its flow-on benefits. Milk flows out of the village, and services for investment and dairy production flow into the village, ensuring a sustainable financial circulation necessary for poverty reduction, rural development and better life for the rural community. In 2001 NWDCS introduced a school milk feeding program that has attracted Australian donors since 2005. Guided by Global Development Group, a multi-faceted project, integrating micro-enterprises, business, education and child health/nutrition, was proposed and initiated by building a dairy plant in Hai District headquarters, the Boma plant. In March 2013, the Australian High Commission to East Africa approved Direct Aid Program funding of AUD 30 000 towards the NWDCS - Biogas Pilot Project in Tanzania, which included the renovation of zero-grazing cow shade units, the construction of 6-m 3 biodigester plants on each farm, and encouragement of the use of bioslurry for pasture production and home gardens.

COMPARISON OF TOWER RAPESEED MEAL AND SOYBEAN MEAL AS SOURCES OF PROTEIN IN PELLETED CALF STARTER RATIONS

Forty Holstein calves (20 male, 20 female) were used in an experiment to compare Tower rapeseed meal (RSM) with soybean meal (SBM) as the sole or partial source of supplemental protein in calf starter rations. Four pelleted calf starter rations were fed to calves on a free choice basis from 2 days until 12 wk of age. Calves were weaned from a limited milk feeding program at 5 wk of age. Rations were 16% crude protein formulations with supplemental protein from (1) SBM, (2) 50% SBM + 50% RSM and (3) RSM or (4) a 14% crude protein formulation with RSM as the supplemental protein. A 50/50 isonitrogenous combination of SBM + RSM (ration (2) or complete substitution of SBM by RSM (ration 3) resulted in feed intake, daily gain and feed/gain ratios similar to those in calves fed rations containing SBM (ration 1) as the protein source. The 16% crude protein rations were similar in the preweaning and postweaning periods and with respect to overall performance. Calves fed the 14% crude protein ration with RSM exhibited similar feed intakes and daily gains but required more feed per unit gain than calves fed the 16% rations containing SBM, RSM and SBM + RSM. Tower RSM can provide 100% of the supplementary protein or up to 17.3% of calf starter rations without resulting in impaired calf performance.

Fermented Bovine Colostrum for Holstein Replacement Calf Rearing

Abstract Colostrum (composite of the first six milkings) from 85 Holstein cows was stored individually for 7 days at room temperature and then pooled for storage of 35 days. Analyses of composition for 20 cows gave means of percent acidity, pH, total solids, lactose, protein, nonprotein nitrogen as a percent of total nitrogen, and fat contents of the initial and 7-day old fermented colostrum as .534, 1.049%; 5.91, 4.74%; 20.06, 15.52%; 3.16, 3.25%; 10.56, 6.47%;4.46, 7.16%; and 5.38, 5.01%. Contents of lactose, total solids, and protein reduced slightly further for colostrum stored longer than 7 days (8 to 35). Forty Holstein female calves were fed either 1) 1.64kg whole milk, or 2) .9kg fermented colostrum plus .9kg water twice daily from birth until weaning at 5 wk during autumn, winter, and spring. A 20% crude protein starter was available to calves during the experimental period. Growth was not different between treatments. Calves of group 1 consumed comparable total dry matter but less amount of crude protein than calves of group 2 (23.5 versus 22.5kg for dry matter and 2.91 versus 3.53kg for crude protein). Starter consumption was consistently greater for calves of group 2 than calves of group 1 (13.3 versus 10.6 kg/35 days). Number of calves treated for diarrhea was six for group 1 and two for group 2. Feed cost was reduced by 90% with fermented colostrum feeding program as compared to the whole milk feeding program.