Hypertonic milk replacers increase gastrointestinal permeability in healthy dairy calves

Current calf milk replacer (CMR) compositions significantly differ from whole milk in their levels of energy, protein, and minerals. Energy source is one of the major differences, as CMR contains high levels of lactose, whereas whole milk contains higher levels of fat. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of partially exchanging lactose for fat on performance, digestibility, and gut permeability in calves fed twice daily on a high feeding plane. Lactose and fat were exchanged in the CMR formulation on a weight-weight basis. The CMR were isonitrogenous but not isoenergetic. A total of 60 male Holstein-Friesian calves were assigned to 1 of 30 blocks based on serum IgG, body weight, and date of collection after birth. Within each block, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: high fat and high lactose. The CMR was provided twice daily until 49 d of age, followed by a gradual weaning period of 14 d. Starter, straw, and water were available ad libitum throughout the complete study. Exchanging lactose for fat did not affect growth; intakes of starter, straw, water, crude protein, or total energy; or apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients. Gastrointestinal permeability was assessed by measuring the recovery of lactulose and Cr in 24-h urine and the Cr concentration and lactulose: d-mannitol ratio in serum following an oral pulse dose. Urinary recoveries of Cr and lactulose were generally low in both treatments but were higher in calves fed the high-fat CMR. Accordingly, the serum lactulose: d-mannitol ratio and serum Cr concentrations were higher in calves fed the high-fat CMR. In wk 1 and during the weaning transition, calves fed the highfat CMR had significantly fewer abnormal fecal scores. In conclusion, exchanging lactose for fat in the CMR did not affect growth performance, total feed intake, or nutrient digestibility. The high-fat CMR was associated with an increase in permeability markers but positively influenced fecal scores in calves.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, CMR has a higher ash content, particularly when it consists of mineral-rich Effect of energy source in calf milk replacer on performance, digestibility, and gut permeability in rearing calves 3995 dairy by-products. In addition, energy type and content in CMR may affect the osmolality of the solution (Wilms et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of energy source in calf milk replacer on performance, digestibility, and gut permeability in rearing calves

Amado¹,

Berends²,

Leal³

et al. 2019

“…We did not monitor fecal consistency in this experiment; however, Amado et al (2019) indicated a better fecal consistency with HF versus HL CMR. Additionally, Wilms et al (2019) has shown that higher CMR osmolality may lead to higher gut permeability. With exchanging lactose for fat, CMR osmolality is reduced and would reduce gut permeability .…”

Section: Health Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of exchanging lactose for fat in milk replacer on ad libitum feed intake and growth performance in dairy calves

Berends¹,

Laar²,

Leal

et al. 2020

The recent trend in the dairy industry toward ad libitum feeding of young calves merits reconsideration of calf milk replacer (CMR) formulations. Additionally, feed intake regulation in young calves provided with ad libitum milk and solid feeds is insufficiently understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of exchanging lactose for fat in CMR on voluntary feed intake and growth performance. Lactose was exchanged for fat on a weight/weight basis, resulting in different energy contents per kilogram of CMR. Thirty-two male calves (1.7 ± 0.12 d of age, 47.6 ± 0.83 kg of body weight) were assigned to 1 of 16 blocks based on arrival date. Within each block, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments. The experimental period was divided into 4 periods. In period 1, until 14 ± 1.7 d of age, calves were individually housed, restricted-fed their assigned CMR treatments at 2.5 to 3 L twice daily, and provided with unlimited access to water, chopped straw, and starter. In period 2, calves were group-housed with 8 calves per pen and received ad libitum access to their assigned CMR treatments, starter feed, chopped wheat straw, and water. During period 3, from 43 until 63 d of age, calves were weaned by restricting CMR allowance in 2 steps, maintaining access to all other feeds. All calves were completely weaned at d 64 of age and were monitored until 77 d of age (period 4). Measurements included the intake of all dietary components, body weight gain, and a selection of blood traits. Increasing fat content at the expense of lactose decreased CMR intake by 10%, whereas total calculated metabolizable energy intake and growth remained equal between treatments. Total solid feed (starter and straw) consumption was not affected by CMR composition. These data indicate that calves fed ad libitum regulate their CMR intake based on energy content. High-fat CMR increased plasma phosphate, nonesterified fatty acids, triglycerides, and bilirubin, whereas plasma glucose remained unchanged. Despite the limited animal numbers in the present experiment, there was a significant decrease in the total number of health events (mainly respiratory) requiring therapeutic intervention and in the total number of therapeutic interventions in calves fed high-fat CMR. Calves appeared to consume CMR based on energy content, with a difference in ad libitum intake proportional to the difference in energy content of the CMR, maintaining equal body weight gain and solid feed intake.

“…Calculated according to NRC (2001). 2 Roughly estimated according to the following equation: osmolality, mOsm/kg = [lactose, mmol/L] + [sodium, mmol/L] + [potassium, mmol/L] + [magnesium, mmol/L] + [calcium, mmol/L] + [phosphorus, mmol/L](Constable et al, 2009;Wilms et al, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of milk replacer feeding levels on performance and metabolism of preweaned dairy calves during summer

Rivas

Komori

Beihling

et al. 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of milk replacer (MR) feeding programs on performance and metabolism during summer. At 3 d of age (DOA), calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: control [CON; 0.55 kg dry matter (DM) of a 20% crude protein (CP) and 20% fat MR per day], intermediate (IL; 0.66 kg DM of a 26% CP and 17% fat MR per day), high (HL; 0.77 kg DM of a 26% CP and 17% fat MR per day), or aggressive (AL; 0.87 kg DM of a 26% CP and 17% fat MR per day). Calves were managed similarly and housed in individual polyethylene hutches using sand as a bedding material. Because 3 calves fed the AL diet developed abomasum bloating during the first 30 DOA, the AL treatment was terminated. Milk replacer (12.5% solids) was offered twice daily until 42 DOA, when MR was fed once daily to reduce its intake by 50%. Calves were weaned at 49 DOA and remained in hutches until 56 DOA. Calf starter and water were offered ad libitum. Ambient temperature and relative humidity in and outside the hutches were assessed hourly. Starter and MR intakes were recorded daily. Respiration rate and rectal temperature were determined 3 times each week.