Performance of dairy calves fed milk, milk replacer or post-weaning concentrate with acidifiers

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of acidifiers to milk, milk replacer or post-weaning concentrate on the performance and health status of weaning and post-weaning calves. Three experiments were carried out, in the first experiment 62 Holstein × Zebu crossbred calves (males and females), reared from birth to 60 days of age, were distributed and fed milk with or without acidifier. From the third day, the calves were suckled (5L of milk/d) for 56 days, split into two meals. The acidifier was added to milk at the time of feeding. From the second week of calf's age a starter diet (18% of CP) was also offer. In second experiment, the same animals from first experiment, but from 61 to 120 days of age were distributed and fed (2 kg/d) post-weaning concentrate (18% of CP) with or without acidifier and Cynodon dactylon hay ad libitum. In third experiment, 16 male Holstein × Zebu crossbred calves, reared from birth to 60 days of age, were distributed and fed milk replacer with or without acidifier. The acidifier used in the first and third experiments was composed by the citric, lactic, fumaric, and phosphoric acids, and vitamin C (liquid diet); and by betaglucans, flavonoides, linoleic and oleic and citric acids, and vitamin C (solid diet). The addition of acidifier to milk or to post-weaning concentrate did not affect the dry matter (DM) and CP intakes, which were 818 and 196; 1740 and 217 g/d respectively. Similarly, it did not show high average daily gains, with 525 and 513 g/d, respectively. The addition of acidifiers to milk replacer showed results similar to those observed in calves fed milk. Therefore, the use of acidifiers in milk, milk replacer or in the post-weaning concentrate did not result in beneficial effects for calves.Key Words: additive, average daily gain, nursing phase Desempenho de bezerros leiteiros alimentados com leite, sucedâneo do leite ou concentrado pós-desmame com acidificantes RESUMO -Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da adição de acidificantes ao leite, sucedâneo do leite ou concentrado pós-desmame sobre o desempenho e o status de saúde de bezerros ao desmame e pós-desmame. Três experimentos foram realizados: no primeiro experimento, 62 bezerros mestiço Holandês × Zebu (machos e fêmeas), criados a partir do nascimento ate 60 dias de idade, foram distribuídos e alimentados com leite com ou sem acidificante. A partir do terceiro dia, os bezerros foram aleitados (5 L de leite/dia) por 56 dias, divididos em duas refeições. O acidificante foi adicionado ao leite no momento da alimentação. A partir da segunda semana de idade do bezerro, uma dieta inicial (18% de proteína bruta,PB) foi também oferecida. No segundo experimento, os mesmos animais do primeiro experimento, mas dos 61 aos 120 dias de idade, foram distribuídos e alimentados (2 kg/dia) com concentrado pós-desmame (18% de PB) com ou sem acidificante e feno Cynodon dactylon à vontade. No terceiro experimento, 16 bezerros machos, mestiço Holandês × Zebu, criados do nascimento até aos 60 dias de ida...

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