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Quigley JD. INVITED REVIEW: An evaluation of EFSA opinion on calf welfare from a nutritional and management perspective. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00868-3. [PMID: 38825134 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
In March, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority published a Scientific Opinion on Calf Welfare. This Opinion was prepared in response to a request from the European Commission to provide an independent view on the welfare of calves that reflected the most recent scientific knowledge. Data sources used to develop their recommendations included peer-reviewed studies, expert knowledge, and gray literature. The Opinion considered specific scenarios and welfare consequences of specific management practices, including feeding fiber to calves raised for white veal and amount of cow-calf contact. Their Opinion suggested that calves should be fed specific quantities of forage NDF during the rearing cycle. Regarding separation of calves, the Committee recommended that the calf should remain with the cow for a minimum of 24 h and then be housed with another calf. They further suggested that prolonged cow-calf contact should increasingly be implemented due to benefits to both cow and calf to minimize stress of separation. The objective of this review is to assess the veracity of these recommendations and the scientific data that underpins them. This review will present a literature to support the contention that, from a nutritional and management perspective, these recommendations may impair calf welfare by exposing calves to innutritious rations containing excess fiber and increasing their risk of morbidity and mortality due to poor colostrum intake and exposure to disease-causing pathogens. Alternative recommendations are made that may further the goal of calf welfare in the context of nutrition and housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Quigley
- Calf Notes Consulting, LLC, 7901 4th St. N., Suite 300, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 USA.
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Zhang J, Zhang C, Yang X, Li L, Cao Y, Zhang X, Zhou S, Ma J, Li M, Hou X, Zhang Z, Yao J. Short- and long-term effects of different forage types supplemented in preweaning dairy calves on performance and milk production into first lactation. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00779-3. [PMID: 38754819 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the short- and long-term effects of different forage types supplemented in preweaning dairy calves on growth performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, bacterial community, and milk production during first lactation. Sixty healthy 1-mo-old female Holstein calves were blocked by birth date and body weight and randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (n = 20): normal milk and pelleted starter feeding (CON), supplemented with chopped oat hay [75.0 g/d/calf (dry matter (DM) basis); OAH], or alfalfa hay [75.0 g/d/calf (DM basis); ALF]. The forage supplementation started when calves were 30 d old (D1 of the experimental period) and ended when they were 73 d old (D44 of the experimental period when calves were weaned. Milk and feed intakes and fecal consistency scores were recorded daily. Growth performance, rumen fluid, and blood samples were collected bi-weekly. After weaning, all the calves were integrated with the same barn and diets. After calving, the milk production was recorded daily. During the experimental period, the OAH group had greater solid feed and total DM intakes and greater rumen pH than the CON group (P ≤ 0.04), but had lower forage intake and crude protein digestibility than the ALF group (P ≤ 0.04). The ALF group had higher rumen pH and blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration (P ≤ 0.04), lower fecal score (P = 0.02), and greater ether extract digestibility (P = 0.02) than the CON group. The ALF and OAH groups had lower concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.01). Still, the ALF group had a greater proportion of acetate and a relative abundance of cellulose degradation-related bacteria (Lachnoclostridium_1 and Oribacterium) and a lower relative abundance of inflammation-related bacteria (Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-009) in the rumen compared with CON. Interestingly, the average milk production from 6 to 200 d in milk (DIM) was greater in the ALF group (P < 0.01) even though no significant effects were found on the rumen fermentation parameters and blood metabolites at 200 DIM. Generally, alfalfa hay supplementation in preweaning dairy calves had positive effects in the short- and long-term in terms of rumen development, health status, and future milk production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chenguang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xuexin Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Lei Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yangchun Cao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Modern Farming (Group) Co., Ltd., Maanshan 243121, China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- Ningxia Xingyuanda Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Lingwu 750406, China
| | - Jiajun Ma
- Ningxia Xingyuanda Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Lingwu 750406, China
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinfeng Hou
- Hebei Leyuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Zhihong Zhang
- Hebei Leyuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Junhu Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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Xiao J, Chen T, Peng R, Alugongo GM, Yang H, Liu S, Ma Y, Wang J, Li S, Cao Z. How neonatal diet affects the long-term development of rumination behavior, rumen fermentation and feed digestion in dairy calves fed a high milk level? ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2024; 16:326-337. [PMID: 38362513 PMCID: PMC10867562 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
This study was to investigate growth performance, rumination development, rumen fermentation and feed digestion in young calves provided high volumes (about 20% of calf birth weight) of milk with or without forage inclusion and how these parameters correlate with each other. Immediately after birth, 160 newborn Holstein female calves (41.6 ± 4.2 kg of initial BW) were randomly divided into 2 treatments: 1) starter (CON, only starter) and 2) starter and hay (HAY, both starter and hay). The calves were fed their respective experimental diets from d 4 to 84, after which they were all introduced to similar diets until the end of the experiment on d 196. Treatment had no effect on growth and structural measurements throughout the experimental period. However, treatment had an effect on the other parameters, mainly during the post-weaning period. Forage supplementation tended to reduce starter dry matter intake (P = 0.05), while increasing the forage intake (P < 0.01) and the feed-to-gain ratio (P < 0.01). HAY calves had increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and physically effective NDF (peNDF) intakes (P < 0.05) and tended to lower (P < 0.01) starch intake compared to CON calves. The HAY calves had a higher rumination time (P < 0.01), ruminal pH (P < 0.01), and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P = 0.05) compared to the CON calves. Spearman correlation analysis showed that rumination time was positively related to the ruminal pH at d 84 (P = 0.01) and 196 (P = 0.02). The HAY calves had similar apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), NDF and ether extract (EE), but lower digestibility of organic matter (OM, P = 0.03), crude protein (CP, P < 0.01) and starch (P < 0.01) compared to those of the CON calves at week 12. Furthermore, there were no positive relationships between rumination time and nutrient digestibility or between rumination time per kilogram DM and nutrient digestibility. In conclusion, feeding hay to calves fed a high milk level improved rumination during the post-weaning period only, without a concomitant effect on growth performance throughout the experimental period, suggesting no detrimental effect of feeding forage in calves fed high milk level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Culture and Safety Production in Cattle in Sichuan, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Tianyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Rong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gibson M. Alugongo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yulin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shengli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhijun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Izadbakhsh MH, Hashemzadeh F, Alikhani M, Ghorbani GR, Khorvash M, Heidari M, Ghaffari MH, Ahmadi F. Effects of Dietary Fiber Level and Forage Particle Size on Growth, Nutrient Digestion, Ruminal Fermentation, and Behavior of Weaned Holstein Calves under Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:275. [PMID: 38254444 PMCID: PMC10812499 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of feeding diets with different fiber content and forage particle size on the performance, health, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and behavioral and sorting activity of Holstein dairy calves kept under elevated environmental temperature. Sixty weaned Holstein female calves (age = 96.7 ± 7.62 days old; body weight = 82.4 ± 10.4 kg) were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments arranged in a 2-by-2 factorial design in a 70-day experiment. Dietary forage content (moderate, 22.5%; or high, 40.0% on DM basis) and alfalfa hay particle size (short, 4.39 mm; or long, 7.22 mm as geometric mean) were the experimental factors, resulting in the following combinations: (1) high-fiber (HF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60 and long particle-sized alfalfa hay (LPS; HF-LPS); (2) HF diets with short particle-sized alfalfa hay (SPS; HF-SPS); (3) moderate-fiber (MF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 22.5:77.5 with LPS (MF-LPS); and (4) MF diets with SPS (MF-SPS). The temperature-humidity index averaged 73.0 ± 1.86, indicating that weaned calves experienced a moderate extent of heat stress. Fiber level and AH particle size interacted and affected dry matter intake, with the greatest intake (4.83 kg/d) observed in MF-SPS-fed calves. Final body weight was greater in calves receiving MF vs. HF diets (164 vs. 152 kg; p < 0.01). Respiration rate decreased when SPS vs. LPS AH was included in HF but not MF diet. Lower rectal temperature was recorded in calves fed MF vs. HF diet. Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was greater in calves fed MF than HF diets, resulting in lower ruminal pH (6.12 vs. 6.30; p = 0.03). Fiber digestibility was greater in calves fed SPS compared with those fed LPS alfalfa hay. Feeding HF compared with MF diet increased acetate but lowered propionate molar proportions. The inclusion of SPS vs. LPS alfalfa hay decreased lying time in HF diet (920 vs. 861 min; p < 0.01). Calves fed MF vs. HF diets spent less time eating but more time lying, which is likely indicative of better animal comfort. Dietary fiber level and forage particle size interacted and affected sorting against 19 mm particles, the extent of which was greater in HF-SPS diet. Overall, dietary fiber level had a stronger effect than forage particle size on the performance of weaned calves exposed to a moderate degree of heat stress as feeding MF vs. HF diet resulted in greater feed intake, final body weight, structural growth measures, nutrient digestion, as well as longer lying behavior. The inclusion of SPS alfalfa hay in MF diets increased feed consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Hossein Izadbakhsh
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | - Farzad Hashemzadeh
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | - Masoud Alikhani
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | - Gholam-Reza Ghorbani
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | - Mohammad Khorvash
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | - Mostafa Heidari
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran (F.H.)
| | | | - Farhad Ahmadi
- School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Eco-Friendly Livestock Science, Institute of Green Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Republic of Korea
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Spina AA, Lopreiato V, Britti D, Minuti A, Trevisi E, Tilocca B, Perri A, Morittu VM. The Effect of Feeding a Total Mixed Ration with an ad libitum or Restricted Pelleted Starter on Growth Performance, Rumination Behavior, Blood Metabolites, and Rumen Fermentation in Weaning Holstein Dairy Calves. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:81. [PMID: 38200812 PMCID: PMC10778400 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of the starter restriction and of the ad libitum TMR (total mixed ration) inclusion on intake, growth performance, rumination time (RT), and health condition of Holstein dairy calves during weaning. We randomly assigned thirty female Holstein calves (with an average weight of 38.5 ± 1.96 kg at birth) to one of three treatments. From 21 days of age, the calves were fed one of three treatments as follows: a control diet (CTR) with an ad libitum calf starter but without TMR; Treatment 1 diet (TRT1) with both an ad libitum calf starter and ad libitum TMR; Treatment 2 diet (TRT2) with ad libitum TMR and a restricted amount of a calf starter (50% of the intake recorder in the control group day by day). Calves in the TRT2 group, between 56 and 63 days of age, had a lower body weight (80.1; 79.5; 75.6 kg for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively) compared with CTR and TRT1 calves. This outcome is ascribed to the average daily gain (0.759; 0.913; 0.508 kg/day for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively), resulting also in TRT2 being lower than CTR or TRT1 calves. The inclusion of ad libitum TMR increased the rumination time, especially after weaning (15.28 min/h, 18.38 min/h, and 18.95 min/h for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively). Concerning the rumen metabolism and inflammometabolic response, overall, no differences were observed between the three dietary treatments. In conclusion, the results indicated that a TMR could partially replace a calf starter in weaning dairy calves, since neither growth performance nor health status were impaired. In addition, providing TMR (with or without concentrate restriction) led to a better rumen development and likely a better rumen fermentation efficiency in post-weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Antonella Spina
- Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health (CISVetSUA), University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.B.); (B.T.); (V.M.M.)
- Department of Health Science, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Lopreiato
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Domenico Britti
- Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health (CISVetSUA), University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.B.); (B.T.); (V.M.M.)
- Department of Health Science, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Andrea Minuti
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DiANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (A.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Erminio Trevisi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DiANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (A.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Bruno Tilocca
- Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health (CISVetSUA), University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.B.); (B.T.); (V.M.M.)
- Department of Health Science, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Alessia Perri
- Department of Health Science, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Valeria Maria Morittu
- Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health (CISVetSUA), University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.B.); (B.T.); (V.M.M.)
- Department of Health Science, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
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Liu T, Li F, Xu J, La Y, Zhou J, Zheng C, Weng X. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that non-forage or forage fiber source promotes rumen development through different metabolic processes in lambs. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:1058-1071. [PMID: 34890306 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.2011738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dietary fiber supplementation can stimulate rumen development in lambs during the pre-weaning period. However, it is unclear whether different sources of fiber have varying effects on rumen development. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of rumen morphological and functional development based on non-forage or forage as a starter dietary fiber source. Twenty-four male Hu lambs with similar body weights (BW, 3.67 ± 0.08 kg) were selected and divided into two groups that received diets supplemented with either alfalfa hay (AH) or soybean hull (SH). At the age of 70 days, six lambs were slaughtered from each treatment group for rumen fermentation and morphological analyses. Three samples of the rumen tissue from the ventral sac were collected for transcriptomic analysis. The results identified 633 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 210 were upregulated and 423 were downregulated in the SH group compared with those in the AH group. The upregulated DEGs were most enriched in the immune function and proteolysis pathways, whereas the downregulated DEGs were mainly involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation pathways. These findings indicated that non-forage as a starter dietary fiber source improved immune function and enhanced nitrogen utilization, whereas forage facilitated rumen morphological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fadi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongfu La
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juwang Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chen Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiuxiu Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Antúnez-Tort G, Bach A, Cajarville C, Vidal M, Fàbregas F, Ahangarani MA, Terré M. Benefits of barley straw as a forage for dairy calves before and after weaning. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:7578-7590. [PMID: 37558048 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the potential consequences on calf intake, performance, behavior, ruminal microbiome, and ruminal epithelium development of combining the inclusion of chopped barley straw and alfalfa hay during the pre- and postweaning periods keeping concentrate to forage ratio constant among dietary treatments. Forty-five Holstein calves (44 ± 5.7 kg of body weight [BW] and 3 ± 1.5 d of age) individually penned were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to a common pellet concentrate fed ad libitum along with one of following forage feeding strategies: barley straw before and after weaning (S-S), barley straw before and alfalfa hay after weaning (S-A), or alfalfa hay before and after weaning (A-A). All calves received the same milk replacer regimen. Forage was supplied in a separated bucket at the rate of 7.5% (preweaning) and 15% (postweaning) of total solid feed intake of the previous day. Feed intake and BW were recorded daily and weekly, respectively. Rumen samples were obtained via a stomach tube at 53, 66, and 87 d and were composite in 3 samples of 5 animals each for subsequent rumen microbiome analysis. A rumen epithelium sample was taken by endoscopy at 90 d to assess gene expression of OCLN, CLDN4, SLC9A1, SLC9A3, SLC16A1, SLC16A4, IL6, and TGFB1. Data were analyzed with a mixed-effects model accounting for the fixed effects of block, forage, week of study, and their interaction, and calf as a random effect. The type of forage fed did not affect concentrate feed, forage, or total DM intake before weaning. However, S-A and A-A calves consumed less concentrate feed and S-A calves grew at a lower rate after weaning than S-S calves. Expression of the gene coding for SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium was greatest in S-S among treatments. Rumen microbiome did not differ among treatments, while the relative abundance of Acidaminococcus and Selenomas genera increased, while Alloprevotella, Bifidobaterium, Olsenella, and Succiclasticum genera decreased with age. In conclusion, feeding barley straw before and after weaning was more effective than feeding alfalfa hay in promoting concentrate feed intake after weaning and fostering an increase in the expression of SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Antúnez-Tort
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Salud de Sistemas Productivos (IPAV), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 1 km 42.5, 80100 San José, Uruguay
| | - A Bach
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Cajarville
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Salud de Sistemas Productivos (IPAV), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 1 km 42.5, 80100 San José, Uruguay
| | - M Vidal
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - F Fàbregas
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - M A Ahangarani
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Zabol University, 98619_155999, Zabol, Irán
| | - M Terré
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Spain.
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Toledo AF, Dondé SC, Silva AP, Cezar AM, Coelho MG, Tomaluski CR, Virgínio GF, Costa JHC, Bittar CMM. Whole-plant flint corn silage inclusion in total mixed rations for pre- and postweaning dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:6185-6197. [PMID: 37500427 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Assuming that acetic acid plays a minor role in the development of ruminal epithelium of preweaning dairy calves, the fiber supply for growing calves has been neglected. More research has been done on including starch and nonfibrous carbohydrates in solid feed for preweaning calves. Accordingly, the fiber requirement of these calves is not well known, as diet recommendations vary greatly. Hence, elucidating the effects of including fiber from long particle sizes in the diet may be essential for helping calves overcome the transition challenge during weaning. Forty-five Holstein calves were used in a randomized block design, considering sex, birth date, and weight at 28 d of age, when the supply of the total mixed ration (TMR) with the inclusion of corn silage started. Three TMR with increasing whole-plant flint corn silage content (0, 10, or 20% on a dry matter basis) were compared: 0CS, 10CS, or 20CS, respectively. During the first 28 d of life, the calves were managed homogeneously and were fed 6 L/d of whole milk, a commercial calf starter pelleted, and water ad libitum. Next, the solid diet was changed to the respective solid feed treatment. Calves were gradually weaned from 52 to 56 d of age but were evaluated for an additional 14 d postweaning. Feed intake was measured daily, while body weight and metabolic indicators of intermediate metabolism were evaluated weekly. Ruminal fluid was collected at 6, 8, and 10 wk of age. Behavioral analysis was conducted on wk 7 (preweaning) and 10 (postweaning). There was a quadratic effect for dry matter intake from wk 7 to 10, with higher intake for the 10CS diet than the 0CS and 20CS diets. Consequently, the 10CS diet also promoted greater average daily gain at wk 8 and 9 compared with the 0CS and 20CS diets. However, the final body weight was not affected by the different solid diets. Silage inclusion in calves' diet positively affected time spent ruminating and chewing pre- and postweaning. Including 10% of whole-plant flint corn silage in the diets of young dairy calves is a strategy to increase total solid intake and decrease acidosis risk by increasing pH and ruminating activity around weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Toledo
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - S C Dondé
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - A P Silva
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - A M Cezar
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - M G Coelho
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - C R Tomaluski
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - G F Virgínio
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900
| | - J H C Costa
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
| | - C M M Bittar
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil 13418-900.
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9
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Xiao J, Chen T, Peng R, Alugongo GM, Yang H, Khan MZ, Liu S, Ma Y, Wang J, Wang W, Wang Y, Li S, Cao Z. The age at first consumption of forage in calves and its effect on growth and rumination in the short- and long-term. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:107. [PMID: 37482622 PMCID: PMC10364370 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous investigations into the effect of dietary forage on calf performance have been inconsistent, and there is a paucity of information exploring the effect of age on the growth performance and rumination of calves. Eighty-four female Holstein calves (41.5 ± 4.2 kg) were enrolled at birth, a subset of the calves were fed calf starter only (CON, n = 21) while the rest (n = 63) were classified into three treatment groups: the early (EHAY, n = 26, 5.1 ± 0.8 d), the middle (MHAY, n = 21, 7.9 ± 0.8 d) and the late (LHAY, n = 16, 12.1 ± 1.4 d) hay consumers. The short-term effect of the age at first forage consumption (AFF) on calves' feed intake was monitored until d 84. In addition, the long-term effects of AFF on body weight, structural growth and rumination behavior were recorded until d 196. Rumen samples were collected on d 1, 7, 35, 84 and 196 to analyze the rumen fermentation, while fecal samples were collected from d 78 to 84 to estimate digestibility parameters. RESULTS Treatment had no effect on feed intake. While, the EHAY calves tended to have lower BW and ADG compared to LHAY and CON calves. Several total-tract apparent digestibility parameters and digestible nutrients intake were significantly lower in EHAY calves compared with CON and LHAY calves. Calves in the EHAY group tended to begin ruminating ealier, while CON calves were the latest (12.3 vs. 15.5 days of age). A treatment and time interaction was present for rumination time due to greater rumination in calves consuming hay compared to CON calves in week 10 to 12, the differences in rumination disappeared afterwards, no long-lasting significant differences in the rumination and rumen fermentation parameters were found between treatments. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study showed that hay consumption earlier in life (in the first week, around 5 days of life) could negatively affect the growth of the calf in the short and long term. Compared to consuming hay from the second week (around 12 days of life) or feeding concentrate only without hay, starting to consume hay from the first week could compromise nutrient digestibility and digestible nutrient intake independent of developing rumination behaviour and rumen fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Culture and Safety Production in Cattle in Sichuan, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Gibson Maswayi Alugongo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Zahoor Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yajing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, International Calf and Heifer Organization, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Milk Plane of Nutrition and Alfalfa Hay Provision in Neonatal Holstein Calves: Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics, and Blood Biochemical Attributes. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2023.115636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
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11
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Satoh H, Fukumori R, Osada T, Shimada K, Oikawa S, Izumi K. Effects of starch content of calf starter on feed intake, growth performance, and fecal properties in dairy calves under a high plane of milk replacer feeding. Anim Sci J 2023; 94:e13911. [PMID: 38113926 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different starch contents in calf starter on the growth, feed intake, and fecal characteristics in dairy calves fed under a high plane of nutrition. Twenty-seven Holstein calves were assigned equally to one of three calf starter treatment groups in a randomized block design: high (H) starch (41.8%); medium (M) starch (31.9%); and low (L) starch (22.0%). Milk replacer was fed up to 1.2 kg/day as fed, gradually reduced from 6 weeks of age; calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age. Each starter (up to 3.5 kg/day as fed) and chopped hay were provided ad libitum from 5 days of age. Fecal samples, along with body measurements, were collected from 4 to 13 weeks of age. The average daily gain after weaning was greater in the H group than in the L group. The average starter intake for 3 days before weaning was not different among treatments but was greater after weaning in the H group than in the L group. Starter starch content did not affect the number of days with diarrhea or fecal starch concentration. The high-starch starter had no adverse effects during the weaning transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Satoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
| | - Rika Fukumori
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
| | - Takehiko Osada
- Department of Sustainable Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
| | - Kensuke Shimada
- The National Federation of Dairy Co-operative Associations (ZEN-RAKU-REN), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Oikawa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
| | - Kenichi Izumi
- Department of Sustainable Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
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12
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Khademi AR, Hashemzadeh F, Khorvash M, Mahdavi AH, Pazoki A, Ghaffari MH. Use of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes and probiotic in finely ground starters to improve calf performance. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11942. [PMID: 35831399 PMCID: PMC9279382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of adding wheat straw treated with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) and a probiotic supplement to finely ground starters on growth performance, rumen fermentation, behavior, digestibility, and health of dairy calves. A total of 48 Holstein dairy calves (39.8 ± 1.67 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to one of 4 nutritional treatments (n = 12 calves per treatment). The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of two diets with or without EFE-treated wheat straw (2 g/day/calf) and diets with or without probiotics (2 g/day/calf). All calves were weaned on day 63 and remained in the study until day 84. The addition of EFE to wheat straw had no effect on starter feed intake, increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and recumbency, but decreased average daily gain (ADG) after weaning (240 g/d). The addition of probiotics to the diet had no effect on starter feed intake, improved feed efficiency, ADG (150 g/d), final weight (11.3 kg), and NDF digestibility, and decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate in the rumen. The addition of probiotics to starter feed for calves could improve their growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Khademi
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - F Hashemzadeh
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - M Khorvash
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - A H Mahdavi
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - A Pazoki
- Ghiam Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Isfahan, 83145-46600, Iran
| | - M H Ghaffari
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
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13
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Retnani Y, Risyahadi S, Qomariyah N, Barkah N, Taryati T, Jayanegara A. Comparison between pelleted and unpelleted feed forms
on the performance and digestion of small ruminants:
a meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND FEED SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.22358/jafs/149192/2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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14
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Downey BC, Jensen MB, Tucker CB. Hay provision affects 24-h performance of normal and abnormal oral behaviors in individually housed dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:4434-4448. [PMID: 35181131 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dairy calves often perform abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) including tongue rolling and nonnutritive oral manipulation (NNOM) when opportunities to perform feeding behaviors are restricted. Many US dairy farms limit access to milk, a well-studied risk factor for ARBs. However, farms also commonly do not feed forage to young calves, and the motor patterns of oral ARBs resemble those necessary for acquiring and chewing solid feed. Our objective was to assess how access to hay from birth influenced time engaged in normal and abnormal oral behaviors across 24 h. Holstein heifer calves were housed individually on sand bedding and fed ad libitum water and grain (control, n = 11) or given additional access to hay (hay, n = 11) from birth. Calves were fed 5.7 to 8.4 L/d (step-up) of milk replacer via a teat. At the start of step-down weaning (50 ± 1 d), all calves were given access to a total mixed ration. Feed and water intake were measured daily. Oral behaviors (eating, ruminating, sucking milk, drinking water, panting, grooming, tongue flicking, tongue rolling, and NNOM) were recorded by direct observation at wk 2, 4, 6, and 8 using 1-0 sampling at 1-min intervals for 24 h. Grain, hay, and water intake increased over time in the preweaning period. One polydipsic calf regularly consumed >10 L of water/d. During weaning, hay calves tended to consume increasingly more total mixed ration, significantly more water, and less grain than control calves. Access to hay led to more observations spent eating solid feed (7% vs. 5%, mean percentage of intervals) and ruminating (24% vs. 16%) during the preweaning period compared with calves fed only grain, though control calves appeared to ruminate in absence of forage to re-chew. Rumination occurred, to a large extent, overnight. Hay calves also spent less time self-grooming (12% vs. 14%), tongue flicking (14% vs. 18%), and performing NNOM (17% vs. 21%) than control calves. Although NNOM peaked around milk feedings, all 3 behaviors were performed throughout the day. Tongue rolling was rare across treatments, as was panting, which occurred most frequently around 1400 h. There were no behavioral differences during weaning (wk 8). Overall, we found that hay provision affected most oral behaviors that calves perform; it promoted natural feeding behaviors and reduced abnormal ones, suggesting hay should be provided. We also found that calves performed other behaviors, including polydipsia, repetitive grooming, and apparent sham rumination, that may suggest a degree of abnormality in these behaviors that has not been previously identified. These results highlight the importance of considering all oral behaviors to better understand calf welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair C Downey
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616; Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - Margit B Jensen
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark, 8830
| | - Cassandra B Tucker
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616.
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15
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Kertz AF. Nutritional Programs for Commercial Replacement Dairy Heifer Operations. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2022; 38:39-49. [PMID: 35219484 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There are a variety of feeding programs that can meet the goal of doubling calf birth weight at the end of 2 months of life. Feeding programs need to take into account the inverse relationship between mil/milk replacer and starter intakes. Water is the most essential nutrient needed in the greatest quantity by calves. Water is consumed at about 4 times dry matter intake and should be fed warm during cold weather. Water and starter should be fed sooner and forage later than the 2014 NAHMS data indicate US dairy producers are doing.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Kertz
- ANDHIL LLC, 9442 Red vBud Tree Lane, St. Louis, MO 63122, USA.
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16
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Machado VS, Ballou MA. Overview of common practices in calf raising facilities. Transl Anim Sci 2022; 6:txab234. [PMID: 35146377 PMCID: PMC8824608 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this literature review, we overview some of the common management practices associated with calf rearing in specialized operations of the United States. Given the growing importance of dairy-beef calves entering the beef production of the United States, we overview aspects related to housing, nutrition, and health events during the pre- and post-weaning period. Based on data on dairy animals, we hypothesize how early life experiences could impact the feedlot performances of dairy-beef animals. Most of the large calf raising operations, where the majority of dairy-beef animals are raised, are located in the Central Great Plains and West regions of the United States. Approximately 80% of calves are individually housed, but the type of housing (e.g., outside hutch, inside a barn) varies based on location of calf-raising facilities. Milk-replacer is fed in more than 80% of operations, while milk (saleable or nonsaleable) is fed in approximately 30% of calf raising facilities (some operations fed more than one type of liquid diet). In addition to liquid feed, water and calf starter are offered ad libitum to calves. Adequate starter intake at weaning is crucial for feed transition from pre- to post-weaning period, which occurs at approximately 2 months of age. Then, calves are mainly housed in group pens and transition from calf-starter to total mixed ration (TMR). Health challenges such as scours and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can hinder the performance of calves and are major causes of morbidity and mortality in calf ranches. Transportation at a very young age and comingling with animals from other dairies can increase the risk of diseases. Current research efforts are focusing on determining individual factors such as body weight (BW) at arrival or biomarkers of inflammation and stress that can be predictive of disease morbidity, mortality, and performance of calves. Future research should focus on how to utilize this information to optimize management and to develop targeted preventative strategies to reduce incidence of diseases and mortality and improve performance during the pre-weaned period. Also, more research is needed to understand how colostrum management, housing, and nutrition can impact the adult performance of dairy-beef animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius S Machado
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Michael A Ballou
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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17
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Xiao J, Chen T, Alugongo GM, Khan MZ, Li T, Ma J, Liu S, Wang W, Wang Y, Li S, Cao Z. Effect of the Length of Oat Hay on Growth Performance, Health Status, Behavior Parameters and Rumen Fermentation of Holstein Female Calves. Metabolites 2021; 11:890. [PMID: 34940648 PMCID: PMC8703666 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the length of oat hay on the performance, health, behavior, and rumen fermentation of dairy calves. For this purpose, two hundred and ten healthy two-day-old Holstein dairy calves were randomly allocated into three groups: basic diet (calf starter) without hay (CON), or a basic diet with oat hay at either long (OL: 10-12 cm) or short (OS: 3-5 cm) length cut. The basic diet was fed from day 4, while the hay was offered from day 14. All calves were weaned at day 56 and remained in their individual hutches till the end of the trial (day 70). Calf starter intake and fecal scores were recorded daily. Bodyweight, body size, and rumen fluid samples were collected biweekly before weaning and weekly after weaning. Overall, providing oat hay (OS and OL) in the diet increased the body weight, starter intake, and average daily gain compared to the CON group. Similarly, feeding oat hay improved rumen fermentation. More specifically, hay enhanced the rumen pH and changed the rumen fermentation type. Hay fed calves spent more time on rumination but less time performing abnormal behaviors compared to control. As it can be concluded, feeding oat hay to calves enhances the growth performance, rumen fermentation, and normal calf behaviors, implying improved animal welfare irrespective of the hay length.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhijun Cao
- Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (J.X.); (T.C.); (G.M.A.); (M.Z.K.); (T.L.); (J.M.); (S.L.); (W.W.); (Y.W.); (S.L.)
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18
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Wang S, Diao QY, Hu FM, Bi YL, Piao MY, Jiang LS, Sun F, Li H, Tu Y. Development of ruminating behavior in Holstein calves between birth and 30 days of age. J Dairy Sci 2021; 105:572-584. [PMID: 34656354 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ruminating behavior accompanies the development of the rumen and the intake of solid feed in calves. However, few studies have reported on the emergence and development of rumination. In this study, we observed ruminating behavior changes of 56 Holstein calves (body weight at birth = 40.1 ± 3.96 kg; mean ± standard deviation) from birth to 30 d of age under the feeding management of suckling calves that were only fed pelleted concentrate feed and milk. All calves were housed in individual pens equipped with infrared cameras. We explored feed intake within 30 d of age, body weight on 61 d of age, and other apparent indicators, including the age of first eating the bedding, duration of non-nutritive oral behavior at 25 and 30 d of age, total starter feed intake within 30 d of age, average daily starter feed intake within 30 d of age, and duration of ruminating behavior at 25 and 30 d of age for all calves, to further explore the effects of the age of first ruminating behavior (AFR). The AFR fitted the normal distribution and ranged from 15 to 20 d of age for 50% of the experimental population. The AFR was positively correlated with the age of first eating the bedding and duration of non-nutritive oral behavior at 30 d of age. Total starter feed intake within 30 d of age, average daily starter feed intake within 30 d of age, duration of ruminating behavior at 25 and 30 d of age, and duration of eating the bedding at 25 and 30 d of age were negatively correlated with AFR. Overall, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has analyzed the correlation between AFR and other indicators. We found that earlier AFR was associated with shorter duration of non-nutritive oral behavior, longer durations of rumination and eating the bedding, and higher feed intake by 30 d of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Wang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Q Y Diao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - F M Hu
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Y L Bi
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - M Y Piao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - L S Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - F Sun
- Institution of Animal Husbandry Research, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
| | - H Li
- JiuXing Dairy Farm, Beijing 101500, China
| | - Y Tu
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
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19
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Karami A, Alikhani M, Khorvash M, Hashemzadeh F, Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi A, Rafiee H, Ferraretto LF. Effects of different forage to concentrate ratios on performance, plasma metabolites, and feeding behaviour of weaned dairy calves from 70 to 120 days of age. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1962749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Karami
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoud Alikhani
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khorvash
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzad Hashemzadeh
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hassan Rafiee
- Animal Science Research Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Luiz F. Ferraretto
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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20
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Molaei M, Kazemi-Bonchenari M, Mirzaei M, Esmaeili HR. The physical form of starter (finely ground versus pelleted) and alfalfa hay (chopped versus pelleted) in Holstein dairy calves: Effects on growth performance, feeding behaviour, ruminal fermentation, and urinary purine derivatives. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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21
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Xiao J, Khan MZ, Alugongo GM, Liu S, Ma Y, Wang J, Chen T, Wang W, Wang Y, Cao Z, Li S. Short- and long-term effects of early life exposure to concentrate or hay on feed sorting and rumen fermentation. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Vagnoni D, Sousa C, Messman M. Substitution of non-forage fibre sources for cereal grains and molasses in calf starter on performance and development of ruminal function. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL NUTRITION 2021. [DOI: 10.3920/jaan2020.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
One hundred and thirty-six, new-born female Holstein calves (body weight (BW) = 37.6±0.79 kg) were allocated to one of four starter feeds to evaluate the effects of replacing cereal grains and (or) molasses with non-forage fibre sources on intake, weight gain, and indicators of ruminal development. Diets consisted of a typical, low (16%) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) texturised calf starter, texturised calf starter with moderately higher (20%) NDF, texturised calf starter with moderately higher (21%) NDF and no molasses, and a complete pelleted high (25%) NDF calf starter. Average daily gains and starter intakes were unaffected by moderate levels of NDF. Average daily gain and feed intakes were increased in the preweaning phase but decreased in the postweaning phase by the high NDF complete pelleted diet. Total tract apparent NDF digestibility increased linearly with age but did not differ among diets. Blood concentrations of glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) decreased and increased, respectively, with age. Further, blood BHB concentrations were largely unaffected by diet and did not change with increasing dry matter (DM) intake until a threshold was reached, and then increased linearly. Calf-side blood BHB testing resulted in an appreciable number of measurements below the limit of detection of the meter, resulting in censored data. Application of appropriate statistical methodology, required for proper parameter estimation from censored data, suggest the potential for successful field application of calf-side BHB measurements for monitoring starter intake and readiness for weaning in commercial settings. Feeding solely a complete pelleted calf starter throughout the starter phase may provide insufficient levels of effective fibre. Integration of the results of this study with previously published literature via a quantitative analysis suggests that maintaining intake may be the key to successful inclusion of non-forage fibre sources in calf starters.
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Affiliation(s)
- D.B. Vagnoni
- Department of Animal Science, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
| | - C. Sousa
- Department of Animal Science, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
| | - M.A. Messman
- Cargill Animal Nutrition Center, 10383 165th Ave NW, Elk River, MN 55330, USA
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Quigley JD, Dennis TS, Suarez-Mena FX, Chapman CE, Hill TM, Aragona KM. Models to predict dry feed intake in Holstein calves to 4 months of age. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:5539-5556. [PMID: 33741153 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Voluntary daily dry feed intake (DFI) in Holstein calves was predicted using 60,761 individual daily observations collected from 1,235 Holstein calves in 30 experiments from 4 research stations in the United States and Europe. Consumption of dry feed (calf starter and hay, kg/d or percent of body weight) was measured from 3 to 114 d of age. Linear models and 2- and 3-parameter nonlinear models were evaluated to predict DFI using age of calf, intake of milk replacer, ambient temperature, percent forage, and neutral detergent fiber concentration in ration dry matter (DM) as independent variables. The initial data set was randomly divided within study location into development (80% of all observations) and validation data sets, and initial screening was conducted using the development data set. Five nonlinear models and 3 linear models (candidate models) were identified and used in further model evaluation. Cross-validation studies (n = 20) with the validation data set were conducted by linear regression of DFI with predicted DFI as independent variable. Candidate models were subsequently evaluated with data from 12 published studies in 2 analyses. The exponential model that best predicted daily DFI in Holstein calves in original and external data sets was DFI (kg/d) = 1.3207 × e[(-5.3892 + 0.6376 × MEgap) × EXP(-0.0392 × Age)] - 0.0013 × Temp + 0.0032 × NDFDM + 0.0026 × Age × MEgap - 0.3646 × PctForage [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.92, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) = 0.96, and mean square error of prediction (MSEP) = 0.10 kg]; where MEgap (Mcal/d) = difference of daily metabolizable energy (ME) requirement and ME intake from milk replacer; Age = age of calf (d) from 3 to 114, Temp = mean daily ambient temperature (°C), NDFDM = ration neutral detergent fiber (% DM); PctForage = percent forage in ration DM. The linear model that best predicted DFI was DFI (kg/d = -0.1349 + 0.0106 × Age + 0.1808 × MEgap + 0.0013 × Age × MEgap + 0.0001 × Temp + 0.00002 × Age × Temp (R2 = 0.93, CCC = 0.96, and MSEP = 0.10 kg). When Temp and ration characteristics were not included, optimal models were 1.4362 × e[(-4.6646 + 0.5234 × MEgap) × EXP(-0.0361 × Age)] + 0.0025 × Age × MEgap (R2 = 0.92, CCC = 0.96, and MSEP = 0.11 kg) and -0.1344 + 0.0102 × Age + 0.1810 × MEgap + 0.0013 × Age × MEgap [R2 = 0.93, CCC = 0.96, and MSEP = 0.10 kg]. Models of daily DFI may improve prediction of nutrient supply to young Holstein calves to approximately 4 mo of age, thereby increasing prediction of growth performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Quigley
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309.
| | - T S Dennis
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - F X Suarez-Mena
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - C E Chapman
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - T M Hill
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - K M Aragona
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi North America, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
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Xiao J, Alugongo GM, Khan MZ, Liu S, Ma Y, Wang J, Chen T, Wang W, Wang Y, Cao Z, Li S. Different feed presentations affect subsequent feed sorting and rumen pH for a short period in weaned calves. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:4146-4156. [PMID: 33589266 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of different feed presentations on feed sorting and rumen pH in weaned calves. Thirty-six weaned female calves at the age of 12 wk (78 d) were raised in pairs (18 pens; n = 6/treatment) and randomly exposed to 1 of 3 feed presentation treatments: (1) concentrate ration (CON, only exposed to concentrate); (2) separate ration (CH, exposed to concentrate and hay as separate components); and (3) mixed ration (Mix, exposed to a mixed diet containing 75% concentrate and 25% hay). After 4 wk (from d 78 to 105) on different feed presentations, all weaned calves were introduced to a novel total mixed ration (TMR) for another 12 wk (from d 106 to 189). Fresh feed and orts were sampled daily before (wk 12 to 15) and after (wk 16, 17, and 28) transitioning to a TMR diet for analysis of feed sorting. Rumen fluid was sampled in wk 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, and 28 to determine rumen pH. The performance of weaned calves was affected by the different feed presentations during the pre-changing period, such that calves fed CON had a lower dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain than calves fed CH and Mix diets. When calves were introduced to the Mix diet, they immediately developed a higher degree of sorting behavior against the long particle fractions. Upon transition to TMR, we did not observe any differences in the performance of calves. However, the sorting behavior established in Mix calves persisted and was similar to calves previously fed the CON diet, whereas the extent of feed sorting in calves initially fed CH was less compared with that in the other 2 treatments in wk 16 and 17. Before changing the diet was transitioned to a TMR, calves fed CON had a lower rumen pH than calves fed CH and Mix. Although rumen pH in all treatments increased to the same level after the diet changed, we observed a tendency toward lower rumen pH in calves fed Mix compared with calves fed CH at wk 17, which might have resulted from the higher degree of feed sorting in these calves. However, by the end of the experiment (wk 28), feed sorting and rumen pH were similar across all treatments. These results indicated a short-term effect of previous feed presentations on subsequent feed sorting and rumen pH, but in the long term disappeared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China; College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Gibson Maswayi Alugongo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Muhammad Zahoor Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yulin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Jingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Tianyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yajing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhijun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.
| | - Shengli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.
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Mitchell LK, Chishti GA, Dennis TS, Heinrichs AJ. Replacing soybean hulls with grass hay on growth, intake, total tract digestibility, and rumen microbial nitrogen production of weaned Holstein dairy calves from 8 to 16 weeks of age. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:1714-1727. [PMID: 33309354 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of replacing soybean hull (SBH) pellets with grass hay (GH) on growth, intake, total-tract digestibility, and rumen microbial nitrogen production of weaned dairy calves from 8 to 16 wk of age. Holstein calves (n = 16) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 rations containing, on a dry matter (DM) basis, 76% grower with the remaining 24% being made up of different amounts of SBH pellets and GH [0% GH, 24% SBH (0GH); 8% GH, 16% SBH (8GH); 16% GH, 8% SBH (16GH); and 24% GH, 0% SBH (24GH)]. Calves were weaned at 6 wk, housed individually, and studied from 8 to 16 wk of age. From 8 to 9 wk of age calves were offered a ration consisting of 50% of texturized starter (20% CP and 35% starch), which was offered from 3 d of age, and 50% of their assigned ration. From 9 wk until the end of the study, calves were offered 100% of their assigned ration. Intake and body weight were measured weekly, and frame measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the study. Animal behavior observations were recorded every 5 min over a 24-h period at 10 and 14 wk of age. Total fecal and urine collection was conducted for 4 d consecutively at 11 and 15 wk of age. Feed and feces were evaluated for DM, N, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch to determine total-tract digestibility. Feces were evaluated for geometric mean particle length (Xgm) and particle size distribution. Urine was evaluated for N, creatinine, urea, and total purine derivatives to estimate microbial N yield. Calves offered 0GH and 8GH had a 20% increase in intake, average daily gain (1.23, 1.27, 0.89, and 0.71 kg/d for 0GH, 8GH, 16GH, and 24GH, respectively), and feed efficiency compared with 16GH and 24GH. Calves offered 8GH had the greatest levels of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility, as well as the greatest estimated microbial N yields. Inclusion of forage increased rumination time (2.75, 6.89, 7.18, and 8.16 h/d for 0GH, 8GH, 16GH, and 24GH, respectively) and decreased fecal Xgm by ~35% compared with calves offered 0GH. In the current study, increasing the replacement of SBH with GH beyond 8% was detrimental to weaned calf performance. These results indicate that when diets containing 8% GH and 16% SBH were fed to recently weaned calves, rumen functionality and feed efficiency were optimized compared with the other GH-SBH combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Mitchell
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - G A Chishti
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802; University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan 54000
| | - T S Dennis
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - A J Heinrichs
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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26
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Bagheri N, Alamouti AA, Norouzian MA, Mirzaei M, Ghaffari MH. Effects of wheat straw particle size as a free-choice provision on growth performance and feeding behaviors of dairy calves. Animal 2020; 15:100128. [PMID: 33451959 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the dairy calf feeding, supplementation of forage to the starter feed is commonly practiced. However, data are insufficient about how changes in particle size (PS) of forage affect calf performance and behavior in a free-choice forage provision system. This study aimed to assess the effects of supplementing wheat straw varying in PS on performance, skeletal growth characteristics, ruminal pH, nutritional behaviors, and blood metabolites of dairy calves. Forty-eight Holstein calves (43.8 ± 3.2 kg of BW) from d 15 of age were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments (n = 12/treatment; six males and six females): (1) starter without wheat straw supplementation (CON), (2) CON supplemented with wheat straw chopped at 1 mm geometrical mean particle length (GMPL) (fine PS), (3) CON supplemented with wheat straw at 4 mm GMPL (medium PS), and (4) CON supplemented with wheat straw at 7 mm GMPL (long PS). The calves were given ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the study. All calves were weaned on d 56 of age and continued the experiment until d 90. The starter, wheat straw, and total solid feed intakes were not affected by GMPL of wheat straw; however, CON calves had a lower solid feed-, total DM- and NDF-intake than calves offered wheat straw. Further, ADG, weaning, and final BWs as well as feed efficiency were similar between treatments. No difference was observed in growth rate of hip height, hip width, body barrel, wither height, and heart girth among treatments, however, wheat straw supplemented calves tended to have greater body length at weaning. Blood concentration of serum β-hydroxy butyrate was greater in wheat straw supplemented calves compared with CON calves on d 56 and 90. Calves supplemented with wheat straw spent more time eating starter and forage, lying and ruminating and less time for standing and non-nutritional behaviors compared with the CON calves on d 49 and 63 of the study. Moreover, calves offered wheat straw had greater ruminal pH than CON calves at 4 and 8 h after offering starter feed on d 35. In conclusion, supplementing wheat straw as a free-choice increased solid feed intake, rumen pH, and calves' welfare, however, PS of wheat straw had no effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Bagheri
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, 3391653755 Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran
| | - A A Alamouti
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, 3391653755 Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran.
| | - M A Norouzian
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, 3391653755 Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Mirzaei
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, 38156-88349, Iran
| | - M H Ghaffari
- Institute of Animal Science, Physiology Unit, University of Bonn, 53111 Bonn, Germany
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Aragona KM, Dennis TS, Suarez-Mena FX, Quigley JD, Hu W, Hill TM, Schlotterbeck RL. Effect of increasing the amount of hay fed on Holstein calf performance and digestibility from 2 to 4 months of age. J Dairy Sci 2020; 104:1620-1629. [PMID: 33358159 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A good transition from a mainly liquid diet to a solid diet of concentrates and forages is important considering the small size and development of the calf's rumen. However, the optimal amount of hay or other high-fiber ingredients in the diet of recently weaned calves is not well defined. The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of feeding 0, 5, or 10% chopped grass hay (6.5% crude protein, 64.6% neutral detergent fiber) with a textured, high-starch starter (20.5% crude protein, 38.4% starch, 14.1% neutral detergent fiber; protein pellet, whole corn, and oats) on performance and digestion in Holstein steer calves between 2 and 4 mo of age. Forty-eight calves (initial body weight = 90.7 ± 2.15 kg) were housed in group pens (4 per pen) and fed diets and water for ad libitum intake. Feed offered and refused was measured daily. Calf body weight, hip width, and body condition score (1-5 scale) were measured initially and at 28 and 56 d. Fecal samples were collected from the pen floor with care not to sample bedding material and composited by pen during d 5-9, 26-30, and 47-51 to estimate apparent total-tract digestibility using acid-insoluble ash. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with repeated measures and pen as the experimental unit. As grass hay increased, dry matter intake (kg/d) decreased linearly but tended to change quadratically. Dry matter intake as a % of body weight changed quadratically with increasing hay, increasing from 0 to 5%, and decreasing from 5 to 10% hay. Average daily gain (1.15, 1.12, and 0.95 kg/d), feed efficiency (0.336, 0.319, and 0.309 kg of average daily gain/kg of dry matter intake), and hip width change (4.6, 4.7, and 4.1) decreased linearly with 0, 5, and 10% hay, respectively. Overall estimates of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein digestibility changed quadratically with hay, increasing from 0 to 5%, and decreasing from 5 to 10% hay, whereas digestibility of starch, sugar, and fat decreased linearly with increasing hay. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber increased from 2 to 3 mo of age, and decreased from 3 to 4 mo of age. Digestibility of starch decreased linearly and digestibility of fat and crude protein increased linearly with age. Digestive capacity did not appear mature by 4 mo of age. Feeding 5% chopped hay supported optimal digestion and growth in calves 2 to 4 mo of age, which agrees with previously published research.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Aragona
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309.
| | - T S Dennis
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - F X Suarez-Mena
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - J D Quigley
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - W Hu
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - T M Hill
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - R L Schlotterbeck
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
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28
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Toledo AF, da Silva AP, Poczynek M, Coelho MG, Silva MD, Polizel DM, Reis ME, Virgínio GF, Millen DD, Bittar CMM. Whole-flint corn grain or tropical grass hay free choice in the diet of dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:10083-10098. [PMID: 32952017 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Tropical grass hay feeding is related to improved ruminal health; however, it may decrease energy intake. On the other hand, whole-flint corn grain may be an alternative fiber source in the diet of dairy calves. Forty-two Holstein calves were used in a randomized block design, considering sex, birth date, and weight at 21 d of age, when the supply of whole-flint corn grain or tropical grass hay started. Three component-fed solid diets were compared: (1) starter concentrate only during the preweaning and starter concentrate with free choice of chopped Tifton-85 hay postweaning (SC), (2) starter concentrate with free choice of chopped Tifton-85 hay pre- and postweaning (SCH), and (3) starter concentrate with free choice of whole-flint corn grain pre- and postweaning (SCW). The animals were evaluated from 21 to 84 d of age. Calves were managed equally during the first 21 d, fed with 6 L/d of whole milk and a commercial starter concentrate (46% nonfiber carbohydrates, small particles, and pelleted) ad libitum. After that, milk feeding was reduced to 4 L/d until gradual weaning at 56 d of age. At 56 d of age, 4 animals per treatment were randomly chosen to be slaughtered for digestive tract weight evaluation and to collect tissue for histological analysis of the ruminal wall, duodenum, and cecum, whereas the other 30 animals were weaned and evaluated for a further 22 d when the SC diet also received hay ad libitum. Feed intake was measured daily. Weight gain and metabolic indicators of intermediate metabolism were evaluated weekly. Ruminal fluid was collected at wk 6, 8, 10, and 12 of age. The SCH diet increased the total and starter dry matter intake, and consequently, the average daily gain and body weight at 56 d of age. The SCW diet promoted an increase in propionate and decreased acetate-to-propionate ratio. Morphometric variables were affected by the SCH diet. The postweaning performance was unaffected by solid diets; however, the SCW diet decreased ruminal and fecal pH. Feeding hay, starting at 21 d of age, can stimulate early solid diet intake, promoting better performance and ruminal and intestinal development, when a highly fermentable and small particle pelleted starter is fed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Toledo
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - A P da Silva
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - M Poczynek
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - M G Coelho
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - M D Silva
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - D M Polizel
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - M E Reis
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - G F Virgínio
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900
| | - D D Millen
- Department of Animal Production, College of Technology and Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Dracena, São Paulo, Brazil 17900-000
| | - C M M Bittar
- Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil 13418-900.
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29
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Mitchell LK, Heinrichs AJ. Increasing grass hay inclusion level on weaned dairy calf growth, intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:9012-9023. [PMID: 32713702 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to determine effects of increasing grass hay (GH) inclusion level on weaned dairy calf growth, intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation. Holstein calves (n = 45) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 total mixed rations with increasing GH [10, 17.5, or 25% on a dry matter (DM) basis; LGH, MGH, or HGH, respectively]. Calves were weaned at 6 wk of age, housed individually, and studied from 7 to 16 wk of age. Rations, consisting of texturized calf starter (20% crude protein) and coarsely chopped GH, were offered ad libitum as separate components from 7 to 9 wk of age. After 9 wk, feed was offered as a total mixed ration containing the assigned level of GH and fed according to the clean bunk feeding strategy as a means of limiting refusals. Initial 9-wk body weight was 81.6 ± 9 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Intake and growth were measured weekly. Blood samples were collected at 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 wk of age for analysis of plasma glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate. Total fecal collection (12 calves; 4 per treatment) was conducted at 11 and 15 wk of age for 4 d consecutively. Rumen samples were collected over the final 24 h of each fecal collection period to evaluate pH and volatile fatty acid profile. Feeds and feces were evaluated for DM, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch to estimate total-tract digestibility. Intake and weight gain were analyzed from 7 to 9 wk and 9 to 16 wk, representing pretreatment and treatment periods. No differences were observed between treatments from 7 to 9 wk. However, differences were found from 9 to 16 wk. Final body weight, average daily gain, DM intake, and metabolizable energy intake all decreased with increased GH. However, skeletal frame measurements did not vary between treatments. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate tended to decrease with increased GH. No differences were observed in DM or starch digestibility, but neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility increased with increased GH. Mean rumen pH and total volatile fatty acid did not change with increasing GH inclusion; however, there was an interaction with time indicating that ruminal fermentation patterns throughout the day were different for calves offered MGH and HGH versus those offered LGH. These results indicate that feeding levels of GH >10% reduce growth and intake before 16 wk and alter ruminal fermentation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Mitchell
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - A J Heinrichs
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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30
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Mitchell LK, Heinrichs AJ. Feeding various forages and live yeast culture on weaned dairy calf intake, growth, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:8880-8897. [PMID: 32713706 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine effects of various forages and live yeast culture on intake, growth, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation of weaned dairy calves. Holstein calves (n = 45) were randomly assigned to 2 × 3 factorial treatments: live yeast culture or no yeast and alfalfa haylage (AH), corn silage (CS), or grass hay (GH). Calves were weaned at 6 wk of age, housed individually, and studied from 7 to 16 wk of age. Rations, consisting of an 18% crude protein texturized grower (yeast or no yeast) and assigned forage, were offered as separate components until 9 wk of age. After 9 wk, diets were offered as a total mixed ration (TMR). Concentrate intake was capped at 2.25 kg of dry matter (DM)/d, and forage was offered ad libitum. The TMR contained equal forage neutral detergent fiber (8 ± 0.5%) on a DM basis for each basal diet. Calves were fed TMR to limit concentrate intake, and additional forage was offered ad libitum after 8 h if the entire TMR allotment was consumed. Total fecal collection (12 calves) was conducted for 4 d at 11 and 15 wk of age. Feeds and feces were evaluated for DM, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch to calculate digestibility. On the last day of fecal collection, rumen samples were collected to evaluate pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile. Metabolizable energy and DM intake was least for calves consuming GH compared with other forages. Forage intake (% of DM intake) increased as calves aged (AH = 20 to 44.4%, CS = 24.5 to 37.6%, GH = 11.3 to 32.3% at 10 and 16 wk of age, respectively). Calves on CS had the greatest average daily gain and empty body weight gain, and calves on GH had the least. Calves on GH tended to have the lowest final body weight. There were no differences in structural growth. Digestibility of DM decreased with age. Fiber digestibility was least for calves on CS, and starch digestibility was least for calves on AH. Mean and minimum rumen pH increased with age. Forage offered changed VFA profile and there was an interaction between yeast and forage on VFA profile. These results indicated that recently weaned calves perform well on AH, CS, or GH and have minimal benefit from yeast supplementation. Feeding GH reduced weight gain, but all calves achieved a level of gain to meet growth goals for breeding and freshening. Furthermore, the ability to consume large portions of the ration as forage allows for more economical diets to be fed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Mitchell
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - A J Heinrichs
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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Horvath KC, Allen AN, Miller-Cushon EK. Effects of access to stationary brushes and chopped hay on behavior and performance of individually housed dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:8421-8432. [PMID: 32564951 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-18042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Providing individually housed dairy calves with opportunities for a greater range of natural behaviors, including foraging and grooming, has broad benefits for their behavioral development and performance. We evaluated the effects of providing hay and stationary brushes on performance and time engaged in feeding, grooming, and nonnutritive oral behaviors. Holstein calves were individually housed and assigned at 14 d of age to 1 of 4 treatments providing: a stationary brush (n = 10), chopped coastal bermudagrass hay (n = 9), both a stationary brush and chopped bermudagrass (n = 10), or no brushes nor additional feed (n = 10). Calves had ad libitum access to calf starter and water and were provided 8 L/d pasteurized waste milk fed in 2 meals via a teat bucket. Beginning at 43 d of age, calves were weaned across 10 d. Solid feed intake was measured daily, and growth parameters and cleanliness were measured weekly. Behavioral data were collected on 2 consecutive days at 25 ± 3 d, recorded continuously from video within daylight for 12 h. Provision of hay tended to increase solid feed intake and average daily gain during weaning, and calves provided a brush had improved coat cleanliness during weaning. Calves performed nonnutritive oral behavior, primarily directed toward the pen, with peaks in these abnormal behaviors around milk feeding. The duration of teat-directed nonnutritive sucking was reduced by access to either hay or a brush, compared with neither (3.2 vs. 6.8 min/12 h observation). Provision of a brush reduced pen-directed sucking (38.4 vs. 59.0 min/12 h observation), particularly at milk-feeding time, and also reduced standing time around milk feeding. Self-grooming was not affected by brush or hay access, but provision of the brush increased total time engaged in grooming behaviors (52.9 vs. 40.2 min/12 h observation). These results support benefits of accommodating natural foraging and grooming behaviors, yet reveal a high prevalence of nonnutritive oral behaviors in dairy calves. Overall, these findings underline the importance of environmental complexity in early rearing environments, and compel further consideration of behavioral needs of dairy calves to reduce the development of abnormal behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Horvath
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - A N Allen
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - E K Miller-Cushon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
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Mitchell LK, Jones CM, Heinrichs AJ. Effect of converting weaned dairy calves from a component-fed diet to a total mixed ration on growth and nutrient digestibility. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:6190-6199. [PMID: 32331899 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to determine the effects of converting calves from a component-fed ration to a total mixed ration (TMR) at 8, 10, or 12 wk of age on intake, growth, and nutrient digestibility. Holstein calves (n = 40) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (no TMR, TMR conversion at 8, 10 or 12 wk; T0, T8, T10, and T12, respectively). Calves were weaned at 6 wk of age, housed individually, and studied from 7 to 14 wk of age. Rations, consisting of a 20% crude protein texturized starter and grass hay, were offered ad libitum as separate components or as a TMR with 85% starter and 15% grass hay on a dry matter (DM) basis. Intakes and body weights (BW) were measured weekly. Component intake for TMR was calculated from the proportion of grass hay and starter contained in the TMR. Fecal grab samples were collected every 9 h over 3 d for a total of 8 samples that formed a composite at 9, 11, and 13 wk of age from the same 4 calves per group. Rumen fluid samples were collected via esophageal tube at -1, 0, 3, and 7 d relative to conversion from component to TMR. Feed and feces were evaluated for DM, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin (internal flow marker) to estimate digestibility. Average daily gain and final BW tended to be least for T8. Empty BW gain was significantly less for T8 than for T0 but not different from T10 or T12 (T0 = 1.07, T8 = 0.93, T10 = 1.02, T12 = 1.04 kg/d). Hip growth tended to be least for T8 and resulted in lower final hip width (T0 = 25.9, T8 = 25.2, T10 = 25.6, T12 = 25.8 cm). Intake tended to be reduced for calves converted to TMR earlier. Throughout the study, calves fed TMR ate more hay and less starter than component-fed calves. Metabolizable energy intake was less for T8 versus T0 but not different from T10 or T12 (T0 = 8.46, T8 = 7.55, T10 = 8.01, T12 = 8.23 Mcal/d). We observed no differences in feed efficiency for the duration of the study. Differences in DM digestibility were not observed, but fiber digestibility was greater for calves fed TMR at 9, 11, and 13 wk of age. Conversion to TMR increased rumen pH. These results indicate that TMR conversion increased hay consumption and subsequently decreased starter and total DM intake. This led to reduced weight and structural growth; however, calves that were converted to TMR as early as 8 wk still achieved adequate growth. The increase in rumen pH and subsequent increase in fiber digestibility allowed for calves to be converted to a 15% grass hay TMR as early as 8 wk and still achieve desirable growth goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Mitchell
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - C M Jones
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - A J Heinrichs
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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Engelking LE, Matsuba T, Inouchi K, Sugino T, Oba M. Effects of feeding hay and calf starter as a mixture or as separate components to Holstein calves on intake, growth, and blood metabolite and hormone concentrations. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:4423-4434. [PMID: 32113755 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated how providing hay mixed with calf starter to dairy calves affected their solid feed intake, feed sorting, growth, and plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations. Forty Holstein heifer calves were fed a texturized calf starter (23.4% crude protein, 32.3% starch on a dry matter basis) and chopped Klein grass hay as separate components (CONT) or the same starter and hay mixed at a 90:10 ratio on an as-fed basis (MIX) ad libitum from the date transported to the research farm (4-7 d of life) to 90 d of life. Calves were provided milk replacer (28% crude protein, 15% fat) at up to 557 g/d before the study, 737 g/d from d 14 to 20, 1,105 g/d from d 21 to 41, 737 g/d from d 42 to 48, and 557 g/d from d 49 to 55 on a dry matter basis. calves were fully weaned on d 56. Feed sorting for the MIX calves was evaluated using the Penn State Particle Separator; the sorting index was calculated as the actual intake as a percentage of predicted intake, with values >100% indicating sorting for and values <100% indicating sorting against. Treatment did not affect solid feed intake, growth performance, or plasma metabolite or hormone concentration during the preweaning or weaning periods. However, calves in the MIX treatment had less neutral detergent fiber intake as a percentage of solid feed intake than CONT calves in the preweaning (23.3 vs. 37.0%) and weaning (23.5 vs. 25.8%) periods, although MIX calves sorted (107.2%) for long particles, which were primarily hay, during weaning. During the postweaning period, MIX calves had greater neutral detergent fiber intake as a percentage of solid feed intake compared with CONT calves (23.4 vs. 22.7%), although they sorted against long particles (84.4%), and decreased solid feed dry matter intake compared with CONT calves (3,292 vs. 3,536 g/d) and average daily gain (1.20 vs. 1.31 kg/d). Weaned calves in the MIX treatment also had lower plasma concentration of glucagon-like peptide 2 compared with CONT (0.46 vs. 0.77 ng/mg) but had higher plasma concentrations of ghrelin (0.05 vs. 0.03 ng/mg). These results suggest that feeding a mixture of texturized calf starter and chopped hay at the 90:10 ratio to postweaned calves may decrease solid feed intake and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Engelking
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
| | - T Matsuba
- Dairy Technology Research Institute, Feed-Livestock and Guidance Department, The National Federation of Dairy Co-operative Associations (ZEN-RAKU-REN), Nishi-shirakawa, Fukushima, Japan 969-0223
| | - K Inouchi
- Dairy Technology Research Institute, Feed-Livestock and Guidance Department, The National Federation of Dairy Co-operative Associations (ZEN-RAKU-REN), Nishi-shirakawa, Fukushima, Japan 969-0223
| | - T Sugino
- The Research Center for Animal Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan 739-8528.
| | - M Oba
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5.
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Xiao J, Alugongo GM, Li J, Wang Y, Li S, Cao Z. Review: How Forage Feeding Early in Life Influences the Growth Rate, Ruminal Environment, and the Establishment of Feeding Behavior in Pre-Weaned Calves. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10020188. [PMID: 31978953 PMCID: PMC7071100 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Under natural grazing systems, calves are likely to consume forage in early life. However, forage inclusion in the diet of pre-weaned calves has long been a controversial issue due to it possibly being associated with negative calf performance. Recent published literature seems to confound previous research. This review aims to understand the factors that may influence forage inclusion in the ration of pre-weaned calves. We have explored research related to the effect of feeding forage on rumen and behavioral development to better understand whether forage should be fed to the young calf. Based on the findings, it is concluded that a small amount of good quality forage is recommended for calves to improve their behavioral expression and rumen environment, which may further improve calf performance. Abstract The provision of forage to pre-weaned calves has been continuously researched and discussed by scientists, though results associated with calf growth and performance have remained inconsistent. Multiple factors, including forage type, intake level, physical form, and feeding method of both solid and liquid feed, can influence the outcomes of forage inclusion on calf performance. In the current review, we summarized published literature in order to get a comprehensive understanding of how early forage inclusion in diets affects calf growth performance, rumen fermentation, microbiota composition, and the development of feeding behavior. A small amount of good quality forage, such as alfalfa hay, supplemented in the diet, is likely to improve calf feed intake and growth rate. Provision of forage early in life may result in greater chewing (eating and ruminating) activity. Moreover, forage supplementation decreases non-nutritive oral and feed sorting behaviors, which can help to maintain rumen fluid pH and increase the number of cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. This review argues that forage provision early in life has the potential to affect the rumen environment and the development of feeding behavior in dairy calves. Continued research is required to further understand the long-term effects of forage supplementation in pre-weaned calves, because animal-related factors, such as feed selection and sorting, early in life may persist until later in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (J.X.); (G.M.A.); (Y.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Gibson Maswayi Alugongo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (J.X.); (G.M.A.); (Y.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Jinghui Li
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Yajing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (J.X.); (G.M.A.); (Y.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Shengli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (J.X.); (G.M.A.); (Y.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Zhijun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-6273-3746
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Aragona KM, Suarez-Mena FX, Dennis TS, Quigley JD, Hu W, Hill TM, Schlotterbeck RL. Effect of starter form, starch concentration, and amount of forage fed on Holstein calf growth from 2 to 4 months of age. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:2324-2332. [PMID: 31954575 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Young, weaned calves are commonly offered ad libitum forage with limited amounts of starter, in contrast to the suggested amount of approximately 5% forage in the diet due to the limited capacity of the rumen, as well as limited ability to digest high fiber feeds. The objective of this research was to compare 2 types of starters (low starch, pelleted vs. high starch, textured), both fed either ad libitum with 5% chopped hay, or fed at restricted rates with ad libitum long grass hay to calves between 2 and 4 mo of age. In trial 1, 48 calves were housed in group pens (68.4 ± 3.37 kg of initial body weight ± standard deviation; 3 pens of 4 calves/pen) and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets: (1) low starch pelleted starter (8% starch) blended with 5% chopped hay fed free choice; (2) high starch textured starter (45% starch) blended with 5% chopped hay fed free choice; (3) low starch pelleted starter (8% starch) fed at a rate up to 2.3 kg of dry matter (DM)/d, with free-choice long grass hay; or (4) high starch textured starter (45% starch) fed at a rate up to 2.3 kg of DM/d, with free-choice long grass hay. Trial 1 was analyzed as a completely randomized design using a 2 × 2 arrangement of treatments. Repeated measures were used as appropriate. Pen was the experimental unit. In trial 2, 48 calves (76.4 ± 1.55 kg of initial body weight; 6 pens of 4 calves/pen) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 diets: (1) ad libitum access to a blend of 95% high starch textured starter (42% starch) and 5% chopped grass hay; or (2) high starch textured starter fed up to 2.7 kg of DM/d with free-choice long grass hay. Trial 2 was analyzed as for trial 1, without factorial arrangement. Trials were 56 d long. In trial 1, feed efficiency, average daily gain (ADG), and change in hip width were greater for calves fed high versus low starch diet. Final hip width, ADG, DM intake, and change in hip width were greater for calves fed limited chopped versus free-choice long hay diets. In trial 2, intake, feed efficiency, and all growth measurements were greater in calves fed the ad libitum mixed diet compared with those limit-fed starter up to 2.7 kg as fed with ad libitum hay. Ad libitum hay intake was highly variable among pens and differed up to 2.5-fold by the last week of the trials. In both trials, restricted feeding of starter with ad libitum long grass hay reduced total DM intake by 13 to 17%, ADG by 20%, and hip width change by 10 to 23% compared with a blend of 95% starter and 5% chopped grass hay fed ad libitum.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Aragona
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309.
| | - F X Suarez-Mena
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - T S Dennis
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - J D Quigley
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - W Hu
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - T M Hill
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
| | - R L Schlotterbeck
- Nurture Research Center, Provimi, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Brookville, OH 45309
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Zhang Y, Cheng J, Zheng N, Zhang Y, Jin D. Different milk replacers alter growth performance and rumen bacterial diversity of dairy bull calves. Livest Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Partial corn replacement by soybean hull, or hay supplementation: Effects of increased NDF in diet on performance, metabolism and behavior of pre-weaned calves. Livest Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Aziz ur Rahman M, Xia C, Ji L, Cao B, Su H. Nutrient intake, feeding patterns, and abnormal behavior of growing bulls fed different concentrate levels and a single fiber source (corn stover silage). J Vet Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Effects of Physical Forms of Total Mixed Rations on Intake, Weaning Age, Growth Performance, and Blood Metabolites of Crossbred Dairy Calves. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9080495. [PMID: 31357637 PMCID: PMC6721007 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Weaning the calf earlier has been found to reduce the milk feeding and labor cost through higher solid feed intake and early rumen development. Forages, when included in calf starter diet, have been found to be beneficial in this regard. This experiment was planned to evaluate the effects of adding 15% oat hay to calf starter and feeding the same as pelleted or un-pelleted total mix ration. Three groups of calves were given four liters of milk daily during the first week and then six liters daily with free access to water and the respective starter diet. The quantity of milk was gradually reduced until the calf started consuming 800 grams of starter for three days. Feed intake, health scores, and shed temperature/humidity were recorded daily. Body weight, body measurements, and blood sample collections were carried out weekly. Feed intake and body measurement gains were similar in all groups. Blood metabolite concentrations and rumen development parameters were also not affected. Average daily weight gain and feed efficiency were numerically higher for calves given pelleted total mix ration followed by unpelleted total mix ration and only concentrate starter feed. On average, calves fed pelleted total mix ration were weaned 5.4 days earlier than those fed only concentrate. No negative effect was observed on any health or growth parameter with addition of oat hay. Expenditure per kg of weight gain was numerically lowest in the pellet fed group, followed by hay mix starter and only starter fed calves. Oat hay may be safely included in calf starter ration as pelleted mixture with economic benefits. Abstract This study evaluated the effects of hay-based total mix ration (TMR) in pelleted or unpelleted form on intake, weaning age, performance parameters, blood metabolites, and cost-effectiveness in crossbred dairy calves during the preweaning period under hot climatic conditions. Thirty calves (4 ± 1 days (d) old), were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments assigned were: (1) conventional calf starter (CCS); without hay (2) TMR containing 85% calf starter and 15% chopped oat hay (OH) and (3) pelleted TMR (PTMR) containing 85% calf starter and 15% OH. Colostrum-fed calves were offered four liters (L) of whole milk each, during the first week, followed by six L daily. Calves were weaned off milk gradually on the basis of targeted starter intake of 200, 600, and 800 grams, after which they were considered weaned. Environmental temperature, feed intake, and health scores were recorded daily. The calves experienced heat stress with an average temperature-humidity index (THI) of 80.06 ± 3.42. Results revealed that average daily dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency (FE) were not different (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Changes in body measurements, rumen development parameters, and blood metabolites were also not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Average weaning age in PTMR was 5.4 d earlier as compared to CCS. Feed cost per unit gain tended to be lower for PTMR compared with CCS-fed (86%) calves. Feeding pelleted TMR containing 15% OH tended to reduce the weaning age and feed cost per unit gain without affecting growth performance, intake, FE, and health parameters in crossbred calves under heat stress conditions.
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Hu W, Hill T, Dennis T, Suarez-Mena F, Quigley J, Knapp J, Schlotterbeck R. Relationships between starch concentration of dry feed, diet digestibility, and growth of dairy calves up to 16 weeks of age. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:7073-7081. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Omidi-Mirzaei H, Azarfar A, Kiani A, Mirzaei M, Ghaffari M. Interaction between the physical forms of starter and forage source on growth performance and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:6074-6084. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Omidi-Mirzaei H, Azarfar A, Mirzaei M, Kiani A, Ghaffari M. Effects of forage source and forage particle size as a free-choice provision on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and behavior of dairy calves fed texturized starters. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:4143-4157. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Wu ZH, Azarfar A, Simayi A, Li SL, Jonker A, Cao ZJ. Effects of forage type and age at which forage provision is started on growth performance, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and intestinal enzymes in Holstein calves. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/an16576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two forage sources supplemented either from Day 3 or Day 15 of age on growth performance, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, intestinal enzymes and incidence of diarrhoea in Holstein bull calves. Forty neonatal male Holstein calves (40.6 ± 5.8 kg BW) were randomly assigned to five treatments, with eight replicates each, including calves fed starter feed without any forage provision (Control; CON), and the same starter plus either chopped alfalfa hay started fed from Day 3 (AE) or Day 15 of age (AL) or chopped oat hay fed from Day 3 (OE) or Day 15 of age (OL). The study finished when all calves were weaned at 56 days of age. During the experimental period average daily gain, starter intake and total dry matter intake were similar among calves fed either of five dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Empty rumen weight (proportional to bodyweight) was greater in CON calves than in OL calves (P < 0.05). The AL calves had a lighter small intestine compared with CON, OL and AE calves, but similar to OE. Frequency of diarrhoea was not affected by dietary treatment (P > 0.05). Rumen concentration of total volatile fatty acids and pH were similar among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Control calves had a lower molar proportion of acetate compared with OL calves, but similar to the other calves (P < 0.05). Forage-fed calves had similar molar proportion of butyrate to CON calves. Acetate to propionate ratio was higher in OL-fed calves than in those fed CON and AE diets (P < 0.05). Rumen concentration of NH3-N tended to be higher (P = 0.059) in CON calves than in forage-fed calves. During experimental period, serum concentrations of globulin, total protein, glucose and total cholesterol were similar among dietary treatments. Calves fed OE had lower serum concentration of albumin than those fed other diets (P < 0.01). Serum concentration of triglycerides (P < 0.05) was greater in calves fed AE followed by those fed AL and then those fed CON, OL and OE. The AL-fed calves had a higher serum lactate dehydrogenase compared with AE and OE fed calves, but similar to calves fed OL and CON. Duodenum amylase concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in AE-fed calves compared with CON-fed calves, but similar to calves fed AL, OL and OE. Calves fed OL had greater (P < 0.05) ileum lipase concentration than those fed OE, but similar to calves fed AL, AE and CON. In conclusion, provision of chopped alfalfa or oat hay to calves either from Day 3 or Day 15 of age resulted in similar starter intake and total dry matter intake and feed efficiency and physical development of the reticulorumen compared with calves fed the CON diet, which justifies the supply of forage to young calves, even at an early age, as forages are generally cheaper than starter concentrates.
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Effects of hay grass level and its physical form (full length vs. chopped) on standing time, drinking time, and social behavior of calves. J Vet Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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45
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Soltani M, Kazemi-Bonchenari M, Khaltabadi-Farahani A, Afsarian O. Interaction of forage provision (alfalfa hay) and sodium butyrate supplementation on performance, structural growth, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation characteristics of lambs during pre-weaning period. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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46
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Horvath K, Miller-Cushon E. The effect of milk-feeding method and hay provision on the development of feeding behavior and non-nutritive oral behavior of dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:3949-3957. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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47
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Imani M, Mirzaei M, Baghbanzadeh-Nobari B, Ghaffari M. Effects of forage provision to dairy calves on growth performance and rumen fermentation: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:1136-1150. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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48
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Mirzaei M, Khorvash M, Ghorbani G, Kazemi-Bonchenari M, Ghaffari M. Growth performance, feeding behavior, and selected blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves fed restricted amounts of milk: No interactions between sources of finely ground grain and forage provision. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:1086-1094. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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49
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Maktabi H, Ghasemi E, Khorvash M. Effects of substituting grain with forage or nonforage fiber source on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and chewing activity of dairy calves. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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50
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