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The objective of study was to evaluate the effects of energy level in starter ration on blood biochemical parameters, hormone profile, immune response and antioxidant status of calves. A total of eighteen angus calves were divided into three groups in such a way that each group had six calves. Three energy levels were {9 MJ/kg, low metabolizable energy (LME), 12.38 MJ/kg, medium metabolizable energy (MME) and 13.62 MJ/kg, high metabolizable energy (HME)} fed to experimental groups. Results showed that hemoglobin, red blood cells, hematocrit, thrombocytocrit and high-density lipoprotein was higher in HME diet (P<0.05). While, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width was higher in MME diet as compared to HME diet (P<0.05). Results of immunity revealed that IgA content were lowest in calves fed LME diet (P<0.05). Calves received different energy level in the diet had no effect on IgG, IgM and C4 (P>0.05). However, the calves on LME starter diet represented higher blood complement C3 contents (P<0.05). It is concluded that blood metabolites were influenced by energy level in Angus calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of calf rearing methods in Sahiwal cows on milk and feed intake, weight gain, body condition score, and locomotion score. We randomly selected the eight Sahiwal cows just before their calving and divided into two groups. After parturition, claves from both groups were reared under natural restricted suckling (RS) and artificial rearing system (AR) at Livestock Experimental Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Restricted suckling calves were allowed to suckle from cow's udder just before milking in the morning and evening (twice milking arrangement) up to weaning. In an artificial rearing system, calves were fed milk through bucket feeders @ 10% of their body weight up to weaning. Post-weaning data for two months were also conceded to complete the trial. The results for weight gain kg week-1 was significantly(P<0.05) higher in RS group (3.35± 0.15) than AR group (2.88 ± 0.31) calves. The average daily weight gain in RS (465 g) group was higher (P<0.05) as compared to AR group (332 g) in the pre-weaning phase (90 days). The average weekly weight gain was also higher (P<0.05) in RS group (3.26 ± 0.24) as compared to AR group (2.33 ± 0.36) up to weaning. There was no significant difference in weight gain of calves in RS group (3.64 ± 0.16) as compared to AR (3.23 ± 0.15) group in post-weaning. The results of milk composition did not show any difference (P>0.05), but the effect of the suckling method had demonstrated a positive impact on the performance of calves. A higher (P<0.05) level of cortisol concentration was found in AR group as compared to RS group. Based on results, it is concluded that natural milk feeding had a positive effect in preweaning on the growth and stress of Sahiwal calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aim was to see the effects of different starter rations energy levels in the diet on ruminal microbial diversity, bacterial community structure and microbial diversity indices of rumen bacterial communities in Angus calves. For this, 18 suckling Angus calves were distributed into 3 different treatment groups. Dietary treatments were: Low metabolizable energy ration (LME); Medium metabolizable energy ration (MME) and High metabolizable energy ration (HME). Results of bacterial community revealed that most abundant phylum was Firmicute. At phyla level, TM7 and Fibrobacteres showed significant higher relative abundance in LME group than HME group. Under different dietary energy, 59 genera showed significant correlation with physiological production parameters. These results provide new information for the understanding of the dietary energy level effect on ruminal microbial community interactions and are of great importance for optimizing energy supply strategy for suckling calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]