Effects of different forage sources as a free‐choice provision on the performance, nutrient digestibility, selected blood metabolites and structural growth of Holstein dairy calves

Abstract

Summary The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different forage sources on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites of dairy calves. Individually housed calves (n = 40; body weight = 41.2 ± 3.5 kg) were randomly allocated (n = 10 calves per treatment: five males and five females) to one of the following four treatments: (i) starter without forage provision (CON), (ii) starter plus chopped alfalfa hay (AH), (iii) starter plus chopped wheat straw (WS) and 4) starter plus dried sugar beet pulp (BP) flakes. Calves fed AH diets had lowest (p < 0.05) starter intake than those fed other diets, and WS promoted a significant increase (p < 0.01) in starter intake during 43–80 days. Forage intake was greatest (p < 0.01) for calves fed AH than those fed WS and BP. Calves in the AH treatment consumed less (p < 0.01) total dry matter intake than those offered other forage treatments. Final body weight was greatest (p < 0.05), and age of weaning was lowest for calves fed BP than other treatments. Calves in the BP treatment had greater (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) than CON and WS treatments, but similar to AH calves. Digestibility of NDF and ADF was greater (p < 0.05) in BP treatment than other treatments. Calves fed BP had greater (p < 0.05) digestibility of DM and OM than those fed CON diets and similar to those fed AH and WS diets. Calves in the AH treatment had greater (p < 0.05) CP digestibility than CON, but similar to WS and BP calves. Blood beta‐hydroxybutyrate concentration was lower in forage‐offered calves than CON one. Body measurements (with the exception of body barrel) did not differ across treatments. It was concluded that BP improves final body weight, ADG and nutrient digestibility of calves than starter without forage provision during weaning transition.

Effects of Replacing Alfalfa Hay With Native Grass Hay in Pelleted Total Mixed Ration on Physicochemical Parameters, Fatty Acid Profile, and Rumen Microbiota in Lamb

“…The significantly increased voluntary intake with the increasing native grass in this study indicates that DM intake is determined mainly by the need for nutrients to meet energy requirements, following prior research that different starter intakes when fed various forage sources ( Movahedi et al, 2016 ; Mirzaei et al, 2017 ), which could be explained by energy intake is the dominant factor that could influence DMI ( Safari et al, 2009 ). In the present, final BW and growth rate decreased when ratios of native grass increased in the diet, which may be chiefly attributed to increased DMI throughout the experimental period ( Mushi et al, 2009 ).…”

Growth Performance and Plasma Metabolites of Grazing Beef Cattle Backgrounded on Buffel or Buffel-Desmanthus Mixed Pastures

“…Supplementing grass-fed sheep with Moringa oleifera was reported to increase blood glucose and immunoglobulin A levels [ 10 ]. In another study, calves supplemented with alfalfa hay had lower plasma BHB compared to their unsupplemented counterparts [ 38 ]. Although numerous reports on the effect of dietary legume supplementation on blood parameters in dairy cows exist [ 39 , 40 ], little information is reported on beef cattle [ 41 ].…”

The effect of different starters on performance and physiological characteristics of early-weaned female Holstein calves

“…On the other hand, they find out that higher lactose content and hay intake might be associated with decreased severity of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Furthermore, according to Movahedi et al (2016), growth performance of dairy calves can differ depending on forage sources that were used. According to those authors, the use of starter plus dried sugar beet pulp flakes in comparison with the other forages, can be a valuable source of forage for dairy calves during the transition from liquid to solid feed.…”