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Effects of step-down weaning implementation time on growth performance and blood metabolites of dairy calves
- Source :
- Journal of Dairy Science. 103:10099-10107
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- American Dairy Science Association, 2020.
-
Abstract
- The current study evaluated the effects of step-down weaning implementation time on starter feed intake, growth performance, blood metabolites, and ruminal pH in dairy calves. A total of 48 Holstein dairy calves (24 male and 24 female; 3 ± 1 d old; 41.2 ± 1.8 kg of body weight) were assigned (n = 12 per treatment; 6 male and 6 female) to 4 experimental treatments in a completely randomized block design. All calves were fed 6 L/d of milk from d 3 to 10 of age, and the treatments consisted of the following: calves were offered 8 L/d of milk from d 11 to 28 of age and then 4 L/d from d 29 to 63 (Step-28; total milk offered = 326 L); calves were offered 8 L/d of milk from d 11 to 42 of age and then 4 L/d from d 43 to 63 (Step-42; total milk offered = 382 L); calves were offered 8 L/d of milk from d 11 to 56 of age and 4 L/d from d 57 to 63 (Step-56; total milk intake = 438 L); and calves were fed 8 L/d of milk from d 11 to 63 of age and abruptly weaned (control; total milk offered = 466 L). All calves were housed individually in pens and had ad libitum access to water and solid feed throughout the experiment. All calves were completely milk weaned on d 64, and their performance was measured until d 80 of age. During the experiment, the starter intake (kg/d and % of body weight) was greater in calves in the Step-28 group compared with those in the other groups. However, the total metabolizable energy intake was greater in the Step-56 calves compared with the other calves. Overall, the average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (ADG/dry matter intake), and ADG/total metabolizable energy intake were similar across the treatments. Circulating glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, total protein, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as ruminal pH, were not affected by the treatments. The implementation of step-down weaning in early life (4-6 wk of age) could stimulate solid feed intake compared with weaning at a later age with no negative effect on performance.
- Subjects :
- Male
Rumen
Milk intake
Randomized block design
Weaning
Biology
Feed conversion ratio
Eating
03 medical and health sciences
Animal science
Starter
Genetics
Animals
Dry matter
Alanine aminotransferase
Blood urea nitrogen
030304 developmental biology
0303 health sciences
Body Weight
Age Factors
0402 animal and dairy science
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
Animal Feed
040201 dairy & animal science
Diet
Milk
Animals, Newborn
Fermentation
Cattle
Female
Animal Science and Zoology
Energy Intake
Food Science
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00220302
- Volume :
- 103
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ab2655c8249049de86ff2d5780dc246a