Inclusion of tallow and soybean oil to calf starters fed to dairy calves from birth to four months of age on calf performance and digestion

Abstract

Energy demands for calves can increase during periods of heat and cold stress. One way to potentially increase energy intake is to increase the energy density of the feed with fat. Trial 1a compared a control starter with no added fat or oil (CON) to starters with 2% tallow (TAL) and 2% soybean oil (SBO). Starters were 20% crude protein (CP) and 45 to 47% starch. Male Holstein calves that were initially 3 to 5d of age were fed a 27% CP, 17% fat milk replacer at 0.66kg of dry matter daily and fully weaned by 42d of a 56-d trial. Trial 1b estimated the digestion of the diets (employed chromic oxide as an indigestible digesta flow marker) using a subset of 5 weaned calves per treatment between d 52 and 56. Trial 2 used Holstein calves initially 59 to 61d of age fed starters CON and SBO blended with 5% chopped grass hay over a 56-d trial. Trial 3 used Holstein calves initially 59 to 61d of age fed starters CON and TAL blended with 5% chopped grass hay over a 56-d trial. Treatments were compared using repeated measures (where appropriate) in a completely randomized design. In trials 1a and 1b, preplanned contrasts compared CON versus TAL and CON versus SBO. Compared with CON, calves fed SBO had reduced starter intake, average daily gain, and digestion of dry matter, organic matter, and CP before 8wk of age. Compared with CON, calves fed SBO had reduced average daily gain and change in hip width from 2 to 4 mo of age. Compared with CON, calves fed TAL had reduced average daily gain and tended to have reduced change in hip width from 2 to 4 mo of age. Calculated metabolizable energy intake was not increased in any trial by added fat or oil. Tallow and soybean oil inclusion at 2% of the starter feed was not advantageous for calf growth before 4 mo of age.

Effects of fat inclusion in starter feeds for dairy calves by mixing increasing levels of a high-fat extruded pellet with a conventional highly fermentable pellet

“…For instance, Araujo et al (2014) reported that fat content of starter feed had no effect on solid feed intake when providing 750 g/d of MR and using full fat soybean as a fat source in the starter feed, which is known to be highly preferred by calves . However, a similar study (Hill et al, 2015) found reduced intake when feeding starter feeds rich in fat. The different results between Araujo et al (2104) and Hill et al (2015) could be linked to the type of fat (e.g., saturation) and the way it was presented to calves.…”

“…However, a similar study (Hill et al, 2015) found reduced intake when feeding starter feeds rich in fat. The different results between Araujo et al (2104) and Hill et al (2015) could be linked to the type of fat (e.g., saturation) and the way it was presented to calves. Araujo et al (2014) used whole soybeans as a source of fat, whereas Hill et al (2015) used either tallow or soybean oil.…”

“…The different results between Araujo et al (2104) and Hill et al (2015) could be linked to the type of fat (e.g., saturation) and the way it was presented to calves. Araujo et al (2014) used whole soybeans as a source of fat, whereas Hill et al (2015) used either tallow or soybean oil. Nevertheless, from a feed technology standpoint, the inclusion of fat in single-pellet starters is limited because it negatively affects pellet hardness and durability.…”

Effect of supplementation fat during the last 3 weeks of uterine life and the preweaning period on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf

“…In the present study, adding fat supplements to the CS did not affect intake of starter diets. Hill et al (22) reported that preweaning calves fed a starter diet containing tallow or soyabean oil had similar starter intake; however, postweaning, calves fed soyabean oil consumed less starter. These results are in accordance with Kadkhoday et al (46) who found that feeding starter diets with different ratios of linoleic and α-linolenic acids did not affect starter intake of Holstein dairy calves.…”

“…Calves born from dams supplemented with long-chain FA during the prepartum may have enterocytes with a particular FA profile that could benefit passive transfer of immunoglobulins (10) . Furthermore, strategic supplementation of EFA in MR (13,20) or calf starter (CS) (21,22) fed to preweaned calves has been reported to impact calf metabolism, improve growth, feed efficiency (FE), health, and immune status.…”