The liquid diet composition can affect dairy calves' performance and diarrhea incidence. The effect of three liquid diets on performance, incidence of diarrhea, and microbial community during diarrhea occurrence in dairy calves were evaluated. At birth, 35 dairy calves (20 male and 15 female) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments—refrigerated whole milk (WM), acidified whole milk (AWM), and milk replacer (MR). Intake, fecal score, and rectal temperature were evaluated daily, and performance and blood parameters were evaluated weekly during the preweaning period. Fecal samples from diarrheic calves were collected, and one initial and one final sample for each episode were selected. The bacterial community was assessed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene on the Illumina MiSeq platform and analyzed using the DADA2 pipeline. Calves fed WM had higher body weight at weaning, average daily gain, body measurements, and concentration of blood metabolites. The AWM-fed calves had a lower rectal temperature and fever days. Moreover, the MR-fed calves had lower beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration and a higher incidence of diarrhea. The fecal bacterial community of diarrheic calves showed dissimilarity among the AWM and the other treatments. At the compositional level, we observed a higher abundance of Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus genera (AWM), Prevotella (WM), and Lactobacillus (MR). In the AWM and MR diarrheic calves' feces, we also observed some beneficial bacterial genera. The performance and incidence of diarrhea of dairy calves were influenced by the liquid diet consumed and the bacterial composition of diarrhea.
The acidification of milk is used in mild climate countries as a way of conservation because it reduces the feed bacteriological load and consequently improves the animals’ performance. However, this management is hampered in hot climates. Thirty-tree males and female Holstein colostrum-fed newborn calves were used in a randomized block experimental design and fed different liquid feed: refrigerated whole milk (WM); acidified milk kept in room temperature (AM); or a commercial milk replacer (MR: 22.9% CP; 18.8% fat; 16% solids). The animals were housed in individual shelters with free access to water and starter concentrate since 2d of age. Calves were fed 6L of liquid diet divided in two meals until their gradual weaning at 56d of age. The milk was acidified to a pH of 4.5 with formic acid 12 hours prior to feeding and kept in ambient temperature (23.7°C). The pH was monitored and corrected to the target pH before each meal. Blood samples were weekly collected and health was evaluated daily. No effect on feed intake was observed (Table 1). Feeding AM decreased calves’ weight gain as compared to that for WM fed calves but with no difference from those fed MR. Fecal scores was higher for MR as compared to WM fed calves, but with no difference from AM. However, AM calves presented higher average rectal temperature than WM fed calves, but a lower number of days with fever. AM is an alternative for feeding calves in tropical climates with performance similar to that observed for MR but with lower days with fever.
New alternatives to increase the content of polyunsaturated beef fat are necessary. Feed supplements like microalgae are a strategy to enrich meat with omega 3. The aim of the study was to evaluate growth performance, fatty acid profile of meat and carcass characteristics of steers fed with microalgae in the diet. Sixteen steers (mean weight 299.6 ± 7.4 kg, seven months) were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (CTL) and the microalgae group (ALG; daily feeding of 1.7% of dry matter as microalgae). The diet (40% corn silage and 60% concentrate) was offered twice daily for 84 days. Microalgae supplementation was associated with a 4.44-fold increase in total omega-3 fatty acids in the longissimus thoracis and lumbar muscle, reflecting a 3.6-fold reduction in the omega-6: omega-3 ratio. The concentration of 20: 5n3 and 22: 6n3 increased by 7 and 20.5 times, respectively, with the addition of microalgae. However, microalgae decreased the consumption of dry matter (P <0.0001) by 16.5%, the average daily gain (P = 0.035) by 19.1% and the muscle water-holding capacity (P = 0.02) by 5.5% compared to control. The use of microalgae reduces growth performance, but does not alter the characteristics of the carcass and has the potential to improve the FA profile of the omega 3 series. Consumers may be attracted to increase their intake of polyunsaturated omega 3 fat from beef. These results can support the decision of nutritionists and farmers to use microalgae in beef cattle, as it becomes economically viable.
The efficiency in the passive immunity transfer (PIT) is directly associated with the production cost and productivity of the animals. When fresh maternal colostrum (FC) is not available, frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer (CR) are alternatives to avoid failures in PIT (FPIT). Thirty-nine Holstein calves were used in a randomized block design with gender, weight and date of birth as blocking effect, and distributed in treatments: 1) feeding of 10% BW of CF; 2) feeding of 10% BW of FC; 3) 1.5 dose of a CR (SCCL®, Saskatoon, Canada). Animals received 6L/d of milk until 56d of life when they were subjected to gradual weaning until the end of the study (63d). Feed intake and health was monitored daily, and weight and blood samples were weekly taken. The Brix value at 24h of life was higher in animals receiving maternal colostrum when compared to CR (FC: 9.52a; Frozen: 10.68a; CR: 8.23b; P < 0.01). The immunoglobulins intake was higher (P < 0.01) for calves fed with maternal colostrum (FC or Frozen), which may explain the differences observed in the apparent efficiency of absorption (P = 0.02). The colostrum protocols affected the serum IgG concentration assessed at 24h (FC: 26.65b; Frozen: 35.69a; CR: 16.93c; P < 0.01); however, no treatment resulted in FPIT, with values of serum IgG above 10g/L. Starter intake increased during the milk-feeding period (P < 0.01), with no effects of colostrum feeding. ADG was influenced by treatments (P = 0.01), with higher gains for calves fed FC, resulting in higher final BW (P = 0.04). During the milk-feeding period, plasma glucose and total serum protein were higher for FC than for CR calves, with no differences for calves fed frozen colostrum. Feeding FC resulted in heavier animals at weaning; however, the frozen colostrum and CR used in this study are adequate alternatives, with no FTIP observed.
The objective of this study was to evaluate two different methods of milk feeding calves and the effects on performance and plasma glucose. Thirty newborn Holsteins calves were individually housed with free access to water and starter concentrate and fed 6 L/d of whole milk divided in two meals (7h and 17h). A randomized blocks experimental design was used, with weight and day of birth as blocking effect, and calves were distributed in two methods of milk-feeding: (1) open bucket; (2) bucket with an artificial teat. Milk-feeding period started with 3 d of age, after colostrum feeding by bottle. The starter intake was monitored daily. Speed of milk intake, body weight and measures, and blood samples were taken weekly. Data were analyzed using the proc mixed of SAS for repeated measures, and the means were compared using the F test (P ≤ 0.05). Feeding milk using a bucket with an artificial teat decreased average daily starter intake (P < 0.03), probably because calves were more satisfied by the act of suckling. However, there were no effects on body weight gain, weight at weaning and average body measures. The bucket with artificial teat had a positive influence on blood glucose concentration, measure 2h after milk feeding (P < 0.01), as a response of lower speed for milk intake (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the speed for milk intake may interfere on blood glucose concentrations peak, however because the behavioral need of suckling is attended, it may decrease starter intake, but without decrease performance.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the age and post-prandial variations in selected metabolite concentration that may indicate a shift in metabolism, from pre- to functional ruminant, according to the liquid diet fed to dairy calves. Sixteen newborn Holstein calves were included in the study in a randomized complete block experimental design. The calves were individually housed and fed 6 L/d with whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR). Blood samples were collected weekly at 0 h (before feeding), 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h after morning feeding to evaluate glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), fructosamine, total protein, and albumin. Calves fed WM had higher performance (p < 0.01) than did calves fed MR. The different liquid diets did not affect the average concentrations of plasma glucose. However, BHB was higher for WM-fed calves (p < 0.01). The concentration of plasma glucose reached the highest concentration at 1 and 4 hours after feeding WM or MR, respectively. Thus, these would be the most appropriate sampling times to study the glycemic status of calves according to the liquid diet fed. Fructosamine did not prove to be an informative metabolite to understand the shift in metabolism, as a function of rumen development, due to a small reduction as a function of age and a sampling time effect.
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