Growth performance, nutrient utilization, and health of calves supplemented with condensed whey solubles.

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2018

Publisher

American Dairy Science Association

Journal

Journal of Dairy Science

Volume

101

Issue

Suppl. 2

Pages

390

Language

en.

Keywords

condensed whey solubles, dairy calf, growth performance

Abstract

Our objective was to evaluate growth performance, nutrient utilization, and health of calves supplemented with condensed whey solubles (CWS). Twenty-four Holstein calves (2 d old) in hutches were used in a 12-wk randomized complete block design study. Calves were blocked by birthdate and sex. Treatments were (1) control (CON) with no supplement and (2) 40 mL/d CWS. Pre-weaning CWS was fed with milk and post-weaning CWS was top-dressed on starter pellets. Calves were fed 2.83 L of pasteurized milk 2×/d during wk 1 to 5, 1 × /d in wk 6, and weaned at d 42. Starter pellets and water were fed ad libitum. Individual intakes of milk and starter pellets were measured daily. Fecal scores (0 = firm, 3 = watery) and respiratory scores (healthy ≤3, sick ≥5) calculated from the sum of scores for rectal temperature, cough, ocular, and nasal discharge were recorded daily. Body weights (BW), frame growth and jugular blood samples were taken 1 d every wk at 3 h post morning feeding. Fecal grab samples were collected in wk 12 for total-tract digestibility (TTD). Data were analyzed using MIXED procedures of SAS 9.4 with repeated measures. Significant differences were declared at P < 0.05 and tendencies were 0.05 ≤ P < 0.10. Total DMI was greater (P < 0.01) in CWS (1500 and 1580 g/d; SEM = 45.8 for CON and CWS, respectively). Calf BW (89.6 and 93.5 kg; SEM = 1.47) tended to be greater (P = 0.06) during post-weaning in CWS. Gain:feed (0.55 and 0.53 kg/kg; SEM = 0.02), ADG (0.81 and 0.86 kg/d; SEM = 0.03), withers height (92.3 and 93.7 cm; SEM = 0.55), plasma urea nitrogen (12.5 and 12.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.38) and glucose (94.7 and 93.2 mg/dL; SEM = 0.96) were similar. β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB; 34.4 and 36.1 mg/dL; SEM = 1.03) was greater (P = 0.03) in CWS. The TTD of DM, CP, and ADF were similar and NDF (57.6 and 48.9%; SEM = 5.05) tended to be greater (P = 0.10) in CON. Fecal scores were similar overall with a treatment × wk interaction (P < 0.01). Respiratory scores were similar. Supplementing CWS improved starter intake, post-weaning BW, BHB, fecal scores, and maintained frame growth.

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