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Macias Franco A, da Silva AEM, de Moura FH, Norris AB, Roloson SB, Gerrard DE, de Mello A, Fonseca MA. Effects of isoenergetic supplementation as water use mitigation strategy on water footprint and health of nursing bull calves. Transl Anim Sci 2023; 7:txad127. [PMID: 38023421 PMCID: PMC10667656 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainable livestock systems focus on mitigating natural resource use such as water. Dietary management strategies can significantly reduce the water footprint of livestock animals; however, animal health is of concern when animals reduce water intake due to subacute dehydration. To evaluate potential consequences of this nutritional management intervention, a total of 23, 60 ± 3 days old nursing Holstein bull calves, weighing 94.7 ± 12.07 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design and received one of three diets. Control was a basal diet composed of a non-medicated milk replacer (milk replacer; n = 7), and the additional two diets, were composed of the same non-medicated milk replacer in addition to either lipid [n = 8; milk replacer + menhaden fish oil (3 %)] or soluble carbohydrate [n = 8; milk replacer + corn starch (7%) isoenergetic to fat group] supplements. Animals were offered ad libitum mineral mix and water, as well as 120 g/day of a composite mix of dried microbrewery's spent grains. Data were analyzed as linear and generalized linear mixed models with diet as a fixed effect and animal as random utilizing R studio (R Core Team, 2021, Vienna, Austria; SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Within supplementation groups, lipid supplemented calves had the highest lymphocyte (63.24 vs 57.69 counts/100 lymphocytes; P < 0.033), and lowest neutrophil counts (29.3 vs 35.3 counts/100 lymphocytes; P < 0.047). Supplementation significantly increased total serum protein (P = 0.001) and skin moisture (P < 0.011), with carbohydrate group having the highest skin moisture (5.30 vs 3.99; P < 0.047). Supplementation also decreased fecal fluidity scores (P < 0.001) with no significant change in serum electrolytes (P > 0.256). No significant differences were found amongst treatments for the ingestive behavior (P > 0.338). The carbohydrate-supplemented calves significantly decreased all daily water footprints compared to the control and fat-supplemented groups: blue a 47.55 L decrease, (P < 0.001), green a 265.62 L decrease (P = 0.005), and gray a 55.87 L decrease (P = 0.009) water footprint, as well as total water footprint (369.04 L, P = 0.004). Our results indicate the potential to maintain animal performance while increasing water use efficiency through diet supplementation tailored to mitigate water use, without adverse effects on animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Macias Franco
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | | | - Felipe Henrique de Moura
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Aaron B Norris
- Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Texas 79409USA
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Serena Breanne Roloson
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - David E Gerrard
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
| | - Amilton de Mello
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Mozart A Fonseca
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
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Creutzinger K, Pempek J, Habing G, Proudfoot K, Locke S, Wilson D, Renaud D. Perspectives on the Management of Surplus Dairy Calves in the United States and Canada. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:661453. [PMID: 33928141 PMCID: PMC8076512 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.661453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The care of surplus dairy calves is a significant issue for the United States and Canadian dairy industries. Surplus dairy calves commonly experience poor welfare as evidenced by high levels of mortality and morbidity, and negative affective states resulting from limited opportunities to express natural behaviors. Many of these challenges are a result of a disaggregated production system, beginning with calf management at the dairy farm of origin and ending at a calf-raising facility, with some calves experiencing long-distance transportation and commingling at auction markets or assembly yards in the interim. Thus, the objectives of this narrative review are to highlight specific challenges associated with raising surplus dairy calves in the U.S. and Canada, how these challenges originate and could be addressed, and discuss future directions that may start with refinements of the current system, but ultimately require a system change. The first critical area to address is the management of surplus dairy calves on the dairy farm of origin. Good neonatal calf care reduces the risk of disease and mortality, however, many dairy farms in Canada and the U.S. do not provide sufficient colostrum or nutrition to surplus calves. Transportation and marketing are also major issues. Calves can be transported more than 24 consecutive hours, and most calves are sold through auction markets or assembly yards which increases disease exposure. Management of calves at calf-raisers is another area of concern. Calves are generally housed individually and fed at low planes of nutrition, resulting in poor affective states and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Strategies to manage high-risk calves identified at arrival could be implemented to reduce disease burden, however, increasing the plane of nutrition and improving housing systems will likely have a more significant impact on health and welfare. However, we argue the current system is not sustainable and new solutions for surplus calves should be considered. A coordinated and holistic approach including substantial change on source dairy farms and multiple areas within the system used to market and raise surplus dairy calves, can lead to more sustainable veal and beef production with improved calf outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Pempek
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Gregory Habing
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kathryn Proudfoot
- Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
| | - Samantha Locke
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Devon Wilson
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - David Renaud
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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von Konigslow TE, Renaud DL, Duffield TF, Winder CB, Kelton DF. Assessing the utility of leukocyte differential cell counts for predicting morbidity, mortality, and growth in a grain-fed veal facility: A prospective single cohort study. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:9332-9344. [PMID: 32773312 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Selective antimicrobial treatment strategies present a means to reduce antimicrobial use at the time of arrival at a veal or dairy beef operation. On-farm machine leukocyte differential cell counts (DCC) that can be acquired quickly may be useful to augment calf risk identification protocols. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of DCC taken at the time of arrival at a grain-fed veal facility and 72 h postarrival for determining morbidity risk, mortality risk, and growth during the production cycle. Data were collected between June and October 2018 from 240 calves upon arrival and from a subset of 160 calves 72 h postarrival at a commercial grain-fed veal facility in Ontario, Canada. Blood samples were evaluated using the QScout BLD test for leukocyte DCC (Advanced Animal Diagnostic, Morrisville, NC). All calves were screened using a standardized health examination, and a blood sample was collected to evaluate serum total protein and DCC. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for both morbidity and mortality outcomes. Mixed linear regression models were constructed to evaluate average daily gain. Results from data collected at the time of arrival suggest that total protein values ≥5.2 g/dL reduced the hazard of mortality and that a rectal temperature >39.6°C was associated with an increased hazard of morbidity. Calves that were dehydrated gained less, whereas calves with an increased lymphocyte count had a higher rate of growth. Results from DCC collected 72 h postarrival suggest that lymphocyte counts between 4.8 and 5.8 × 109 cells/L decreased the hazard of mortality and counts >7.0 × 109 cells/L decreased the hazard of morbidity, whereas neutrophil counts >6.0 × 109 cells/L increased the hazard of mortality. This study demonstrates that machine DCC at the time of arrival and 72 h after arrival has potential for use in identifying high-risk calves that might require treatment, as part of selective antimicrobial therapy protocols, with the purpose of reducing antimicrobial use without sacrificing animal health in veal facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- T E von Konigslow
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - D L Renaud
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - T F Duffield
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - C B Winder
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - D F Kelton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
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