Performance Of Holstein Calves Research Articles

Effects of alfalfa hay and its physical form (chopped versus pelleted) on performance of Holstein calves

Inclusion of forage and its physical form in starter may affect rumen development, average daily gain (ADG), and dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy calves. To evaluate the effects of forage and its physical form (chopped vs. pelleted) on growth of calves under a high milk feeding regimen, 32 Holstein calves (38.8±1.1kg) were assigned at birth to 1 of 3 treatments in a completely randomized block design. Dietary treatments (% of dry matter) were (1) 100% semi-texturized starter (CON); (2) 90% semi-texturized starter + 10% chopped alfalfa hay (mean particle size=5.4mm) as a total mixed ration (TMR; CH); and (3) 90% semi-texturized starter + 10% pelleted alfalfa (mean=5.8mm) hay as a TMR (PH). Data were subjected to mixed model analysis with contrasts used to evaluate effect of forage inclusion. Calves were weaned at 76 d of age and the experiment finished 2 wk after weaning. Individual milk and solid feed consumption were recorded daily. Solid feed consumption and ADG increased as age increased (effect of week), but neither forage inclusion nor physical form of forage affected these variables pre- or postweaning. Plasma urea N was affected by treatments such that the CON group had a lower concentration than forage-fed groups. Forage inclusion, but not physical form, resulted in increased total protein in plasma. Although days with elevated rectal temperature, fecal score, and general appearance were not affected by dietary treatments, calves fed alfalfa hay during the first month of life had fewer days with respiratory issues, regardless of physical form of hay. We concluded that provision of forage does have some beneficial effects in calves fed large amounts of milk replacer, but pelleted alfalfa hay did not result in any improvement in calf performance or health.

Evaluation of a high or low level of milk replacer, with or without varied intake, on neonatal Holstein calf performance and health

ABSTRACT Neonatal Holstein bull calves (n = 30; age ~ 1 wk; average BW = 39 ± 5.4 kg) were allocated randomly in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate a high or low level of 28% CP, 18% fat milk replacer (MR), with or without varied intake, on calf performance and health. Treatment factors included (1) level (high = 1.13 kg/d or low = 0.45 kg/d) and (2) daily intake (constant or varied). Calves were purchased in 2 blocks and followed for 35 d (block 1) and 42 d (block 2). Intake data and fecal scores were recorded daily; BW data and blood samples were collected weekly. Feeding a high level of milk replacer improved ADG (0.962 vs. 0.858 kg/d), reduced calf starter DMI (0.392 vs. 0.929 kg/d), increased BUN levels (11.62 vs. 9.77 mg/dL; P

Interaction between the physical form of the starter feed and straw provision on growth performance of Holstein calves

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of physical form of a starter feed with or without straw supplementation on growth performance of Holstein calves. In experiment 1, a total of 32 calves were randomly assigned at 7 d of age to texturized starter feed (containing rolled barley, corn, and oats) without straw, texturized starter feed with chopped straw, and pelleted starter feed with chopped straw. All calves were offered 4 L of pasteurized whole milk twice daily from 7 to 35 d of age, 2 L of milk twice daily from 36 to 42 d of age, and 2 L of milk from 43 to 49 d of age. Animals were weaned at 50 d of age, and the study finished when calves were 63 d old. In experiment 2, a total of 60 calves (8 d of age) were randomly assigned to texturized starter feed (containing whole corn) without straw, pelleted starter feed without straw, and pelleted starter feed with chopped straw. All calves were offered the same milk replacer (MR; 23% crude protein and 19.5 fat) at 11% dry matter concentration, 4 L/d of MR until 14 d of age, 6 L/d of MR from 14 to 37 d, 3 L/d of MR from 38 to 44 d, and 1.5 L/d of MR from 45 to 52 d of age. The experiment finished when calves were 58 d old (1 wk after weaning). Rumen liquid pH was measured after weaning. In both studies, calves were individually housed in pens on sawdust bedding and starter feed and chopped straw were offered free choice in separate buckets. In experiment 1, starter feed and straw intake and growth did not differ among treatments. However, calves receiving straw showed a greater rumen pH compared with those not receiving straw. In experiment 2, pelleted started feed supplemented with straw fostered an increase in solid feed intake (as percentage of body weight) compared with a pelleted or texturized starter feed without straw supplementation. However, calves that received the texturized starter feed containing whole corn had rumen pH similar to those fed a pelleted starter feed with straw. Feeding a texturized starter feed containing rolled barley, corn, and oats (with or without straw provision) was not able to maintain rumen pH or promote growth and intake compared with offering a pelleted starter feed with chopped straw. However, when whole corn was used in the texturized starter feed, rumen pH was equivalent to that obtained with a pelleted starter feed and straw supplementation.

Effect of hay on performance of Holstein calves at suckling and post-weaning

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Holstein calves in suckling and post-weaning phases, intensively managed during suckling in the absence or presence of hay. Twenty-four male Holstein calves, at an average age of 15 days and initial weight of 43 kg were used in the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of two treatments and six replications. The treatments were as follows: 1) suckling with milk substitute + initial concentrate for calves, ad libitum + temperate grass hay (oat/ryegrass), ad libitum; 2) suckling with milk substitute + initial concentrate for calves, ad libitum. No significant difference was found between treatments for weight gain and feed conversion. However, the supply of hay caused an increase in daily dry matter intake (2.127 vs 1.894 kg). The intake of hay promoted greater stimulus to consumption of concentrate and greater weight at weaning.

Interaction between milk allowance and fat content of the starter feed on performance of Holstein calves

Sixty-six Holstein male calves [42±6.0kg of body weight (BW) and 12±3.1 d of age] were housed individually and allocated to 1 of 4 treatments following a 2 × 2 factorial complete randomized design to assess the potential interaction between milk replacer (MR) allowance and fat content in the starter feed. Thus, 4 treatments were evaluated: a low-fat (4.1% fat; LF) starter feed offered along with 4L/d of MR (4LF), a high-fat (11.2% fat; HF) starter feed plus 4L/d of MR (4HF), a LF starter feed offered with 6L/d of MR (6LF), and an HF starter feed offered with 6L/d of MR (6HF). Calves were fed either 4 or 6L/d of MR (25% crude protein and 19.2% fat) in 2 offers (0800 and 1630h) and had ad libitum access to either an LF or an HF starter feed (21.4 and 22.3% crude protein). Calves were weaned at wk 6 of study by halving the daily MR allowance for 1 wk. Individual MR and starter feed intakes were recorded daily and BW was determined weekly. A glucose tolerance test was performed on d 30 of study to evaluate the effects of increased energy provision on glucose metabolism. Apparent feed digestibility was measured for the last 5 d of study. Overall, fat content of starter feed had no effect on solid feed intake. However, during wk 8 of study (after weaning), calves in the LF treatment had greater starter feed intake than HF calves. Calves on 6L/d of MR had greater BW than calves fed 4L/d from the second week of study until weaning. After weaning, 6LF calves had lesser BW than 6HF calves. Calves on 6L/d of MR had greater average daily gain than calves fed 4L/d, and 6HF calves tended to have the greatest average daily gain. Glucose clearance rate tended to be lesser for HF than for LF calves. In conclusion, offering 6L/d of MR increased growth performance before weaning and, when offering 6L/d of MR, feeding a high-fat starter feed resulted in the greatest BW after weaning.

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.

Sombra artificial e método de fornecimento de concentrado no comportamento e desempenho de bezerros desmamados

It was evaluated the behavior, the physiological variables and the performance of Holstein calves and crossbred calves weaned using different shade screens and hours of concentrate supplying. There were used nine Holstein calves (H) and 15 crossbred Holstein calves (MH), housed on partially covered paddocks with a polypropylene screen (shade) with a loop of 70% of shadow (S70) and 40% (S40) receiving concentrate at three times: morning (M), afternoon (A) and alternate days (AD). The behaviors eating and ruminating lying were, respectively, more frequent on the environment S70 (34.29 and 11.40%) than on the environment S40 (30.18 and 6.76%), showing greater termical comfort for calves. The behaviors ruminating standing and standing were, respectively, more frequent on the environment S40 (6.42 and 40.25%) than the environment S70 (5.24 and 31.18%). The haircoat surface temperature presented higher values on the environment S40 for animals H (33.87ºC) and MH (33.69ºC), mainly on the hottest hours of the day, where the solar radiation was higher. The respiratory rate (RR) was higher for animals H just about on the environment S40 (55.66 mov. min.-1) as much as on the environment S70 (60.98 mov. min.-1). The daily average weight gain did not vary according to the ration supplying, shade and genetic groups

The effect of vanilla flavoured calf starter on performance of Holstein calves

Twenty one male Holstein calves were used to evaluate the effects of vanilla flavour added to starter on preweaning and postweaning calf performance. Following 3 d of colostrum and transition milk feeding, calves were assigned in a completely randomized design to two treatments including: 1. unflavoured starter and 2. flavoured starter. Calves were fed whole milk at 10% of the initial body weight daily and had free access to starter and water. The weaning criterion was defined as the calf age at a daily intake of 0.80 kg of starter for 2 days, consecutively. Calves fed flavoured starter weighed more at weaning and at the end of experiment and the preweaning average daily gains increased significantly compared with calves fed unflavoured starter. The starter consumption during the preweaning but not postweaning period was significantly higher in calves fed flavoured starter. The calves fed flavoured starter met weaning criteria at a younger age, so that they had 2 to 3 days shorter preweaning period (P<0.03). These findings demonstrate that supplementing starter with vanilla as a flavour agent is advantageous to calf performance.

Performance of Holstein calves fed milk-replacer and starter mixture supplemented with probiotic feed additive

The aim of a study was to determine the efficacy of the microbial feed additive containing spores of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (BioPlus 2B®) on performance and health status of rearing calves. Sixty four female Holstein calves, aged on average 16.7±4.5 days, were randomly assigned into two groups of 32 animals: control (C) and BioPlus 2B® (BP). Milk replacer (MR) and starter mixture (SM) fed to BP group contained 1.32 × 109 (±3.2%) and 1.13 × 109 (±11.5%) spores of Bacilli strains, respectively. Each calf was fed with 2.25 l of MR two times a day for eight weeks, up to the age of approximately 10 weeks. Starter diet (SD) offered to calves consisted of SM and whole maize grain, which were mixed in ratio 50:50 (wt/wt). Intake of MR was equal in both groups, but SD intake was higher in the whole experiment in the BP group (1075 vs 951 g/d; P<0.01). The BP calves grew faster than C ones in the whole trial (P=0.05), but especially in weeks 3-4 (P<0.05). At the end of the trial the BP calves were about 2.9 kg heavier than the C ones (P<0.001). Feed efficiency, calculated as consumption of ME (MJ) or crude protein (g), was not different between treatments. There were also no differences in the health status and faecal score between treatments. The results of this study suggest the beneficial effect of microbial feed additive containing spores of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis for rearing calves. 400 PROBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE – CALF PERFORMANCE

Influence of equalizing the gross composition of milk replacer to that of whole milk on the performance of Holstein calves

This study compared the performance of female Holstein calves fed either whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR) having similar gross composition to WM. Calves (n = 20) were separated from their mothers within 2 h of birth, weighed, moved into individual pens, and fed colostrum (10% of their BW over 2 feedings daily) for the first 3 d. Calves were alternately assigned to either WM (n = 10) or MR (n = 10) and were fed using mobile plastic bottles. At each feeding, diluted MR was prepared in buckets by mixing 0.143 kg of MR powder (as-is basis) in 1 L of lukewarm water. Calves on both treatments were fed (1.8 L/feeding) for 4 times daily for the first 25 d of age. Feeding frequency was reduced to 3 times daily for next 5 d, then to 2 times daily for next 14 d, and then to once daily during the last 5 d of the preweaning period. Feed intake, growth, and health variables were monitored until calves were 70 d of age. Mean daily consumption of WM and MR was similar in both treatment groups (P = 0.74). Initial BW of calves fed either WM or MR was similar (42.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 41.9 +/- 2.9 kg, respectively; P = 0.83). Calves fed WM or MR daily consumed similar amounts of calf starter (1,019 vs. 1,056 g, respectively; P = 0.32), hay (121.5 vs. 126.3 g, respectively; P = 0.30), and water (5.2 vs. 5.0 kg, respectively; P = 0.54). At weaning (d 49) and postweaning (d 70), BW was greater (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) in calves fed WM than in those fed MR. Mean DMI from both solid and liquid feeds was not affected by the treatments during the preweaning (P = 0.21) and postweaning (P = 0.16) periods. Body weight gain efficiency during preweaning and overall was improved (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) in calves fed WM than in those fed MR. Health (days scoured, rectal temperature, respiratory score, and general appearance score) and serum chemistry variables (glucose, total protein, urea N, nonesterified fatty acids, and creatinine) in calves were not affected (P >or= 0.12 and P >or= 0.12, respectively) by the treatments. Even though gross composition of the MR and WM was similar, growth was greater in calves fed WM. Calves fed WM consumed similar amounts of DM and were heavier than those fed MR, probably because of better bioavailability (digestion and assimilation) of nutrients and availability of some unknown growth factors from WM.

Effects of Applying Exogenous, Non-Starch Polysaccharidases to Pre Weaning Starter Concentrate on Performance of Holstein Calves

Effects of Applying Exogenous, Non-Starch Polysaccharidases to Pre Weaning Starter Concentrate on Performance of Holstein Calves

Effects of thermally activated natural zeolite on faecal consistency score and performance of Holstein calves from birth to 6-month of ages

Natural Zeolite are characterized by framework of linked tetra hydration enclosing open cavities in the form of channels, and cages which are commonly occupied by water molecules and cations (Tomlinson, 1998). Various applications of natural and synthetic zeolites in animal nutrition, and in other uses to cope with environmental problems are widely known (Sadeghi et al., 2004; Nikkhah and Sadeghi, 2004; Tomlinson, 1998). Heat processing changes the structure of this clay and makes it as a material with Cation Exchange and adsorption properties. To our knowledge, little information is available concerning the effect of thermally activated natural zeolite on plasma IgG1 concentration, and performance of Holstein calves from birth to 6-month ages. This study was conducted to determine the effect of T-zeolite on faecal score and performance of Holstein calves from birth to 6-month ages.

Health and Performance of Holstein Calves that Suckled or Were Hand-Fed Colostrum and Were Fed One of Three Physical Forms of Starter

Intake of colostrum by neonatal calves and early transition to calf starter are two important factors in successful calf programs. Thirty-one Holstein calves were used to determine health and performance of calves that were 1) allowed to remain with their dams for 3 d and suckle (suckled calves) or were removed from their dams and fed colostrum only by bottle (bottle calves); and were 2) fed ground, pelleted, or textured starters, formulated to be isonitrogenous. Bottle calves were removed from their dams at birth, fed 2.84L of colostrum, placed in individual hutches, and fed 1.89L of colostrum 12h after the first feeding. Suckled calves were removed from their dams after 3 d and placed in individual hutches. Once calves were housed in hutches, they were fed 2L of whole milk twice daily and were provided starters and water beginning on d 3. Calves were weighed at birth and weekly for 6 wk. Blood samples were obtained at birth, 24h, and weekly for serum protein determination. Starter intake, fecal scores, and electrolyte treatments were recorded daily. Weaning began when calves had consumed 0.68kg starter for 2 d consecutively. There were no differences in treatment means between suckled and bottle calves for total gain, grain consumption, days with fecal scores >2, or electrolyte treatments per calf. Average days to weaning was greater for bottle calves compared with suckled calves. Mean serum protein concentration at 24h was greater for bottle (6.0 g/dl) compared with suckled calves (5.8 g/dl) and only 2 of 15 bottle calves had serum protein concentrations <5.0 g/dl compared with 6 of 16 suckled calves. For starter treatments, calves fed textured starter consumed more total grain, were weaned earlier, and weighed more at 6 wk of age than calves fed pelleted starter. Based on 24-h serum protein concentrations, transfer of passive immunity was greater for bottle calves compared with suckled calves.

Effects of Direct-Fed Microbials on Growth, Health, and Blood Parameters of Young Holstein Calves

Direct-fed microbial supplementation and the performance of Holstein calves were evaluated. Calves were assigned to treatments that included: 1) colostrum only at birth; 2) colostrum at birth plus Biomate FG Concentrate for 35 d; 3) colostrum and medicated milk replacer at birth plus Biomate FG Concentrate for 35 d; or 4) colostrum at birth plus Biomate LA-20 for 35 d. Blood samples taken at birth, at 12 h or 24 h after birth, and at about 3, 10, and 35 d of age revealed no treatment differences in total serum protein, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), packed cell volume (PCV), or hemoglobin. Calf BW and feed refusal were measured twice weekly. Significantly different calf BW were accounted for by differences in birth weight. No differences were detected in calf performance, health, or blood parameters, regardless of the microbial fed. Calves receiving a reduced level of colostrum ate more grain, but there were no differences in calf performance or health as compared with other treatments. No advantage was shown for microbial supplementation of young Holstein calves, except possibly when there was lowered colostrum intake.

Performance of Holstein calves from three to twelve months of age (1991)

Sixty-four Holstein steers were used to study the effect of season and age on performance. Animals beginning the trial in spring were heavier (P<.05) and more efficient than calves started in other seasons. There were no differences (P>.05) among seasons in average daily gain and feed conversion after 6 mo of age. Rate of growth was reduced after 9 mo of age for all seasons.; Dairy Day, 1991, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1991;