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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-1110v1 87/3/1129    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, H. J. Articles by Choi, Y. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, H. J. Articles by Choi, Y. J.

Influence of equalizing the gross composition of milk replacer to that of whole milk on the performance of Holstein calves

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

^* Dairy Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan, Republic of Korea , Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

cyjcow{at}snu.ac.kr

Abstract

This study compared the performance of female Holstein calves fed either whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR) having similar gross composition to WM. Calves (n = 20) were separated from their mothers within 2 h of birth, weighed, moved into individual pens and fed colostrum (10% of their BW over two feedings daily) for the first 3 d. Calves were alternately assigned to either WM (n=10) or MR (n=10) feeding and were fed using mobile plastic bottles. At each feeding, diluted MR was prepared in buckets by mixing 0.143 kg of MR powder (as is basis) in 1 L of lukewarm water. Calves on both treatments were fed (1.8 L / feeding) for 4 times daily for the first 25 d of age. Feeding frequency was reduced to 3 times daily for next 5 d; then to 2 times daily for next 14 d and then to once daily during the last 5 d of pre-weaning period. Feed intake, growth and health parameters were monitored until calves were 70 d of age. Mean daily consumption of WM and MR was similar in both treatment groups (P = 0.74). Initial BW of calves fed either WM or MR was similar (42.1 ±3.3 vs. 41.9 ±2.9 kg, respectively; P = 0.83). Calves fed WM or MR daily consumed similar amounts of calf starter (1019 vs. 1056 g, respectively; P = 0.32), hay (121.5 vs 126.3 g, respectively; P = 0.30), and water (5.2 vs. 5.0 kg, respectively; P = 0.54). At weaning (d 49) and post-weaning (d 70), BW was greater (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) in calves fed WM than in those fed MR. Mean DM intake from both solid and liquid feeds was not affected by the treatments during pre-weaning (P = 0.21) and post-weaning (P = 0.16) periods. Gain efficiency during pre-weaning and overall was better (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) in calves fed WM than in those fed MR. Health (days scoured, rectal temperature, respiratory score, and general appearance score) and serum chemistry parameters (glucose, total protein, urea N, non-esterified fatty acids, and creatinine) in calves were not affected (P 0.12 and P 0.12, respectively) by the treatments. Even though composition of the MR and WM was similar, growth was still greater in calves fed WM. Calves fed WM consumed similar amounts of DM and were heavier than those fed MR probably because of better bio-availability (digestion and assimilation) of nutrients and availability of some unknown growth factors from WM.

Key Words: calves • feed intake • growth • whole milk • milk replacer,