Journal of Animal Science, Vol 79, Issue 9 2260-2267, Copyright © 2001 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effect of varying carbohydrate and fat content of milk replacer on body composition of Holstein bull calves

J. N. Tikofsky, M. E. Van Amburgh and D. A. Ross
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying concentrations of dietary fat and carbohydrate on changes in body composition of Holstein bull calves fed under isocaloric and isonitrogenous intake conditions. Thirty-two calves were assigned to a randomized block design with three dietary treatments, eight calves per treatment, and one baseline group of eight calves. Animals were reared from birth to 85 kg live BW (SEM = 0.57). All calves began treatments between 2 and 6 d of age. Three different milk replacer treatment diets were designed to deliver 14.8 (low fat, LF), 21.6 (medium fat, MF), or 30.6% of DM (high fat, HF) fat; 55.3, 46.7, or 35.4% of DM lactose; and 23.5, 24.8, or 27.0% of DM CP, respectively. Gross energy values were 4.62, 5.09, and 5.77 Mcal/kg for the LF, MF, and HF milk replacers, respectively. From d 1 to 14, calves were offered 0.24 Mcal intake energy/kg BW(0.75), adjusted weekly based on increases in BW, and 0.28 Mcal intake energy/kg BW(0.75) from d 15 to slaughter. Dry feed was not offered. Dry matter, energy, CP, and fat intakes were 55.2 kg, 257.6 Mcal, 13.0 kg, and 8.2 kg; 52.8 kg, 268.8 Mcal, 13.1 kg, and 11.4 kg; and 46.8 kg, 270.3 Mcal, 12.6 kg, and 14.3 kg for the LF, MF and HF treatments, respectively. Energy and CP intakes did not differ among treatments (P = 0.63 and 0.79, respectively). Fat and DMI were different among treatments (P = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). Empty BW gains were 0.61, 0.61, and 0.65 kg/d for LF, MF, and HF, respectively, and were not different among treatments (P = 0.27). Empty body CP, water, and ash gain were not different among treatments (P = 0.65, 0.99, and 0.57, respectively). Empty body retained energy and fat gain were 27.2 and 57.7% greater for calves fed the HF than for those fed the LF diet (P = 0.06 and 0.006, respectively). Fat as a percentage of the whole empty body on a water-free basis was lower for calves consuming the LF diet (28.6%) than for those fed the HF diet (34.6%), whereas percentage of CP on an empty body, water-free basis was greater for calves consuming the LF diet (59.2%) than for those fed the HF diet (54.9%) (P = 0.006). The results of this study demonstrated that, under isocaloric and isonitrogenous intake conditions, equivalent dietary energy from fat compared to carbohydrate, above 15% fat, has no beneficial purpose unless additional fat deposition is required in the animal. Further, the data demonstrate significant changes in body composition independent of growth rate.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M. Hill, H. G. Bateman II, J. M. Aldrich, and R. L. Schlotterbeck Effects of fat concentration of a high-protein milk replacer on calf performance J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2009; 92(10): 5147 - 5153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Lee, M. A. Khan, W. S. Lee, S. H Yang, S. B. Kim, K. S. Ki, H. S. Kim, J. K. Ha, and Y. J. Choi Influence of equalizing the gross composition of milk replacer to that of whole milk on the performance of Holstein calves J Anim Sci, March 1, 2009; 87(3): 1129 - 1137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Hill, H. G. Bateman II, J. M. Aldrich, and R. L. Schlotterbeck Effect of Consistency of Nutrient Intake from Milk and Milk Replacer on Dairy Calf Performance Professional Animal Scientist, February 1, 2009; 25(1): 85 - 92. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Labussiere, S. Dubois, J. van Milgen, G. Bertrand, and J. Noblet Effects of Dietary Crude Protein on Protein and Fat Deposition in Milk-Fed Veal Calves J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2008; 91(12): 4741 - 4754. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Hill, K. F. Knowlton, K. M. Daniels, R. E. James, R. E. Pearson, A. V. Capuco, and R. M. Akers Effects of Milk Replacer Composition on Growth, Body Composition, and Nutrient Excretion in Preweaned Holstein Heifers J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2008; 91(8): 3145 - 3155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Daniels, S. R. Hill, K. F. Knowlton, R. E. James, M. L. McGilliard, and R. M. Akers Effects of Milk Replacer Composition on Selected Blood Metabolites and Hormones in Preweaned Holstein Heifers J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2008; 91(7): 2628 - 2640. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. W. Hess, G. E. Moss, and D. C. Rule A decade of developments in the area of fat supplementation research with beef cattle and sheep J Anim Sci, April 1, 2008; 86(14_suppl): E188 - E204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Bascom, R. E. James, M. L. McGilliard, and M. Van Amburgh Influence of Dietary Fat and Protein on Body Composition of Jersey Bull Calves J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2007; 90(12): 5600 - 5609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Quigley, T. A. Wolfe, and T. H. Elsasser Letter to the Editor: A Response to the Comments of Borderas et al. (2007) J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2007; 90(8): 3569 - 3571. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Foote, B. J. Nonnecke, D. C. Beitz, and W. R. Waters High Growth Rate Fails to Enhance Adaptive Immune Responses of Neonatal Calves and Is Associated with Reduced Lymphocyte Viability J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2007; 90(1): 404 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Cowles, R. A. White, N. L. Whitehouse, and P. S. Erickson Growth Characteristics of Calves Fed an Intensified Milk Replacer Regimen with Additional Lactoferrin J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2006; 89(12): 4835 - 4845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. G. C. van den Borne, M. W. A. Verstegen, S. J. J. Alferink, F. H. M. van Ass, and W. J. J. Gerrits Synchronizing the Availability of Amino Acids and Glucose Decreases Fat Retention in Heavy Preruminant Calves J. Nutr., August 1, 2006; 136(8): 2181 - 2187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Bartlett, F. K. McKeith, M. J. VandeHaar, G. E. Dahl, and J. K. Drackley Growth and body composition of dairy calves fed milk replacers containing different amounts of protein at two feeding rates J Anim Sci, June 1, 2006; 84(6): 1454 - 1467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. T. Oliver, K. J. Touchette, J. A. Coalson, C. S. Whisnant, J. A. Brown, S. A. M. Oliver, J. Odle, and R. J. Harrell Pigs weaned from the sow at 10 days of age respond to dietary energy source of manufactured liquid diets and exogenous porcine somatotropin J Anim Sci, May 1, 2005; 83(5): 1002 - 1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. G. Brown, M. J. VandeHaar, K. M. Daniels, J. S. Liesman, L. T. Chapin, D. H. Keisler, and M. S. W. Nielsen Effect of Increasing Energy and Protein Intake on Body Growth and Carcass Composition of Heifer Calves J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2005; 88(2): 585 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Nonnecke, M. R. Foote, J. M. Smith, B. A. Pesch, and M. E. Van Amburgh Composition and Functional Capacity of Blood Mononuclear Leukocyte Populations from Neonatal Calves on Standard and Intensified Milk Replacer Diets J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2003; 86(11): 3592 - 3604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Blome, J. K. Drackley, F. K. McKeith, M. F. Hutjens, and G. C. McCoy Growth, nutrient utilization, and body composition of dairy calves fed milk replacers containing different amounts of protein J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1641 - 1655. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]