Effects of hydrolyzed spray dried red blood cells in milk replacer on calf intake, body weight gain, and efficiency

Effect of replacing a commercial pelleted calf meal with lucerne leaf-meal on performance of neonatal and transitional Holstein heifer calves

A study was conducted to (i) determine in vitro ruminal dry matter (DM) fermentation kinetics, effective rumen degradation of DM (EDDM), (ii) estimate energy fractions supply of lucerne leaf-meal (LLM) and composite diets of LLM with commercial pelleted calf meal and also (iii) determine the effects of substituting commercial pelleted calf meal with LLM on the intake, % ruminal nitrogen balance (RNB) and growth of the neonates (21–42 days old) and transition (43–56 days old) Holstein heifer calves. Forty-eight Holstein heifer calves were randomly assigned to three different dietary treatments in a complete randomised design of: (a) pelleted concentrate (PEL), (b) 65% pelleted concentrate: 35% LLM (P65 L35); (c) and 50% pelleted concentrate: 50% LLM (P50 L50). The study comprised of two experiments: neonatal (Experiment 1) and transition (Experiment 2) phases. Lucerne leaf-meal had gross energy of 16.2 MJ/kg and 25% crude protein DM. PEL diet was high in starch and bound protein compared with other diets. Inclusion of LLM in diets increased calcium levels but tended to decrease phosphorus levels. Calves were weaned at the age of 56 days. The feeds were incubated for 0, 4, 10, 18, 24 and 48 h using a DaisyII incubator. Rumen fluid was obtained from calves <50 days old. Large Ruminant Nutrition System was used to predict %RNB and energy density of the diets during neonatal and transition phases. Higher mean EDDM levels were found with LLM inclusions whereas fractions a, a + b and c did not vary. Neonates on diet C had higher (P < 0.05) daily DM and crude protein intakes, %RNB, total digestible nutrients, net energy at maintenance and net energy at gain during neonatal phase. Performance of calves was similar during the transition phase. LLM should be considered as a concentrate replacement in diets of neonates and calves.

Evaluation of serum protein-based arrival formula and serum protein supplement (Gammulin) on growth, morbidity, and mortality of stressed (transport and cold) male dairy calves

Previous studies with calves and other species have provided evidence that blood serum-derived proteins and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) may benefit intestinal health. We assessed the effects of supplementing products containing serum proteins as a component of arrival fluid support or serum proteins plus FOS (in addition to additional solids, minerals, and vitamins) in an early life dietary supplement on performance, morbidity, and mortality of stressed (transport, cold) male calves. Male Holstein calves (n = 93) <1 wk old were stratified by arrival body weight (BW) and plasma protein concentration, and then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of one-time administration of fluid support [either control electrolyte solution (E) or the serum protein-containing arrival formula (AF)] and 14 d of either no supplementation (NG) or supplementation with Gammulin (G; APC Inc., Ankeny, IA), which contains serum proteins and FOS in addition to other solids, minerals, and vitamins. Upon arrival at the research facility, calves were orally administered either AF or E. At the next feeding, half of the calves from each fluid support treatment received either milk replacer (20% crude protein, 20% fat) or the same milk replacer supplemented with G (50 g/d during the first 14 d). Starter and water were freely available. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. Calf health was assessed by daily assignment of fecal and respiratory scores. Stature measures and BW were determined weekly. Blood samples were obtained at d 0 (before treatments), 2, 7, 14, and 28. Calves were weaned at d 42 and remained in the experiment until d 56. After 2 wk of treatments, calves previously fed AF had greater body length (66.6 vs. 66.0 cm), intakes of dry matter (38.7 vs. 23.5 g/d) and crude protein (9.2 vs. 5.6 g/d) from starter, and cortisol concentration in blood (17.0 vs. 13.9 ng/mL) than calves fed E. Supplementation with G resulted in greater BW gain during the first 2 wk, increased intakes of dry matter and CP, and decreased respiratory scores. For the 8-wk experiment, G supplementation resulted in lower mean fecal score (1.6 vs. 1.8) and fewer antibiotic treatments per calf (1.5 vs. 2.5) than NG. Survival was greater in G than in NG calves (98 vs. 84%). Despite the marked reduction in morbidity and mortality, blood indicators of acute-phase response, urea N, and total protein were not affected by AF or G in transported cold-stressed male calves.

Chemical composition, protein quality, palatability, and digestibility of alternative protein sources for dogs

The chemical composition and protein quality of 11 alternative protein sources (chicken products, blood products, enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, soybean meal, and spray-dried pork liver) were determined, and an experiment was conducted to determine palatability and digestibility of processed red blood cell-containing diets. Chicken protein sources differed in concentrations of CP, acid-hydrolyzed fat, and total AA (TAA) by 20, 31, and 24%, respectively, and GE by 1.7 kcal/g. Blood protein sources varied little in acid-hydrolyzed fat and GE concentrations, but concentrations of CP and TAA differed by 11 and 8%, respectively. Protein solubility of chicken and blood protein source categories averaged 57 and 69%, respectively. Protein solubility of enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, soybean meal, and spray-dried pork liver was 53, 67, and 26%, respectively. Based on calculations from immobilized digestive enzyme assay values, lysine digestibility averaged approximately 80.4 and 81.7% for blood and chicken protein sources, respectively. Lysine digestibility values for soybean meal and spray-dried pork liver were 89 and 77%, respectively. A chick protein efficiency ratio (PER) assay showed that chicken protein sources had high protein quality values, as the PER ranged from 2.7 to 5.3, whereas blood protein sources had poor protein quality (PER values less than 1.5). Enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, spray-dried pork liver, and soybean meal had high protein quality (PER values greater than 2.8). In the dog palatability and digestibility experiments, a corn and chicken-based diet supplemented with either 0 or 3% processed red blood cells was tested. The palatability test showed that dogs consumed more of the diet that contained 0% vs. 3% processed red blood cells. The intake ratio for the 3% processed red blood cells diet was 0.34. Nutrient digestibilities did not differ, except for CP, where the digestibility was greater (P = 0.01) for dogs consuming the 0% processed red blood cells diet. These data suggest that chemical composition and quality of alternative protein sources differ greatly among ingredients within the same category. Palatability data suggest that a processed red blood cells-containing diet is not highly palatable but, when this diet was offered as only one food, dogs demonstrated no aversion response but some decrease in protein digestion.

Influence of pooled colostrum or colostrum replacement on IgG and evaluation of animal plasma in milk replacer

Newborn Holstein (n = 48) and Jersey (n = 30) calves were studied to compare absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from maternal colostrum (n = 39) or colostrum replacement containing an Ig concentrate derived from bovine serum (n = 39). Calves were also fed milk replacer with (n = 38) or without (n = 40) animal plasma (20% of crude protein) to 29 d of age to determine effect of plasma protein on IgG status, health, and growth. Calves were fed maternal colostrum or colostrum replacement at 1.5 and 13.5 h of age and provided a total of 250 or 249 and 180 or 186 g of IgG for Holsteins and Jerseys fed maternal colostrum or colostrum replacement, respectively. Milk replacer (12.5% DM) was fed at 31% of metabolic birth weight (2 feedings/d). Plasma was sampled at 0 h, 24 h, and weekly to determine IgG by turbidimetric immunoassay. At blood collection, calves were weighed and measured to determine growth. Health scores, fecal scores, and grain intake were measured daily. Plasma IgG at 24 h did not differ between calves fed maternal colostrum (13.78 ± 0.39 g/L) and colostrum replacement (13.96 ± 0.38 g/L). Average daily gain, withers height, hip height, body length, heart girth, health, and incidence of diarrhea were not different between treatment groups. Calves fed maternal colostrum used feed more efficiently than calves fed colostrum replacement. Plasma IgG and performance were not affected by the addition of animal plasma to milk replacer. The colostrum replacement used in this study provided adequate IgG for newborn calves. Animal plasma was an acceptable source of protein but did not enhance growth or immunity under the conditions of this study.

Liquid egg as an alternative protein source in calf milk replacers

The use of alternative proteins in milk replacer has been evaluated for their ability to decrease the cost of milk replacers without negatively impacting performance of the calf. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of calves fed milk replacer utilizing liquid egg as an alternative protein and to determine the optimal concentration of liquid egg to include in milk replacers. Calves in trials 1 and 2 were assigned to a control diet of all milk protein replacer (MILK) or a diet formulated to contain 5% of the diet (13.5% of the protein) from liquid egg (5% EGG). Calves in trial 3 were assigned to one of four diets: the control (MILK) and 5% EGG diets fed in trials 1 and 2, or diets formulated to contain either 10 or 15% of the diet (27 or 40.5% of the protein) from liquid egg (10% EGG, 15% EGG). For all experiments, milk replacers were formulated to contain 20% protein, 20% fat and were fed at 454 g/d reconstituted to 12% DM. Production of the diets containing egg protein utilized breaker eggs that were pasteurized during manufacturing. Holstein bull calves (n = 44 for experiment 1, n = 38 for experiment 2, and n = 120 for experiment 3), were purchased from an area sale barn. Calves were housed in individual hutches with water available free choice starting on d 0. A commercially available calf starter was offered free choice beginning on d 7 for experiments 1 and 2 and on d 1 for experiment 3. Feed intake, scour scores, and antibiotic treatments were recorded daily. For experiment 1, calves fed 5% EGG had greater weight gains than calves fed MILK. No differences in average daily feed intake were observed. For experiment 2, weight gains tended to be lower with 5% EGG, whereas feed intakes and gain to feed ratios were similar between calves fed MILK or 5% EGG. For experiment 3, as the amount of egg in the diet increased, weight gain decreased in a linear fashion during the milk replacer feeding period, but the decrease in gain was significant only with the 15% EGG diet. These results indicate that egg is an effective alternative protein source to milk protein in calf milk replacers when fed at levels up to 10% of the diet in a conventional feeding program of 0.45 kg per head per day.

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma in calf milk replacer on health and growth of dairy calves

Male Holstein calves (n = 120) purchased from local dairy farms were fed one of three calf milk replacers for 42 d. Experimental milk replacers were formulated to contain whey protein concentrate (WPC) as the primary protein source or WPC plus 5% spray-dried bovine plasma (SDBP) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP). The SDPP was heated to remove heat-insoluble materials and provide products with similar IgG content. Calves were also fed commercial calf starter and water for ad libitum consumption. Intake, change in body weight (BW), feed efficiency, morbidity and mortality were determined. Mortality was 10, 3, and 2 in calves fed WPC, SDBP, and SDPP treatments, respectively. Morbidity, measured as the number of days that calves had diarrhea was reduced by 30% when SDBP or SDPP were fed. Calves had diarrhea for 6.9, 3.9, and 4.7 d during the 42-d study when fed commercial calf milk replacer containing WPC, SDBP, and SDPP, respectively. Fecal scores tended to be reduced and feed efficiency tended to be improved when SDBP or SDPP were fed. Mean intakes of total dry matter during the 42-d study were greater when calves were fed SDBP or SDPP and were 661, 710, and 684 g/d for calves fed WPC, SDBP, and SDPP, respectively. Mean BW gains from d0 to 42 were 231,261, and 218 g/d, respectively. Calves fed SDPP tended to have lower BW gain during the first 28 d of the study. However, difference in daily BW gain from d 1 to 28 was only 39 g/d. Inclusion of SDBP or SDPP in milk replacer reduced morbidity and mortality of milk-fed dairy calves.

Effects of spray-dried whole egg and biotin in calf milk replacer

Holstein bull calves (n = 120) were fed milk replacers containing 0, 10, or 20% of the formulation (0, 22, or 44% of crude protein) as spray-dried whole egg powder in a 56-d feeding trial. Milk replacer was medicated with oxytetracycline and neomycin and was fed from d 1 to 42 of the study in a phase-fed program. All experimental milk replacers were supplemented with B vitamins, except biotin. One half of all calves were supplemented with 1 mg/kg of supplemental biotin to determine whether avidin in the egg protein product inhibited growth. Increasing spray-dried whole egg caused a linear reduction in body weight, body weight gain at 28 and 56 d of the study, calf starter intake, and feed efficiency. Calves fed milk replacers containing 0, 10, and 20% spray-dried whole egg gained an average of 486, 369, and 302 g/d, respectively, during the 56-d trial. Efficiency of feed utilization was 446, 318, and 231 g of body weight gain per kilogram of dry matter intake. Improvement in body weight and feed efficiency occurred when calves began consuming calf starter on d 29. Digestibility of protein or fat from egg may have been reduced during the trial; however, the addition of biotin to the milk replacer did not influence animal performance, suggesting that avidin in spray-dried whole egg was not responsible for impaired performance. The spray-dried whole egg product used in this study did not provide nutrients to support adequate growth of milk-fed calves.