Lactoferrin supplementation to dairy calves.
Twenty-one Holstein calves (12 bulls, 9 heifers) were used to evaluate the effects of supplemental lactoferrin (0, 1, and 10 g/d) added to colostrum, milk, and milk replacer in a 56-d study. Calves fed lactoferrin (LF) weighed more during wk 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 than control calves. Calves fed LF had increased preweaning daily weight gains and heart girth gains compared with calves not fed lactoferrin. Calves fed 1 g/d LF had a greater preweaning average daily gain than calves fed 10 g/d of lactoferrin. Hematocrit and serum Fe were unaffected by treatments. Calves were weaned when they had consumed 0.7 kg of calf starter grain for 2 consecutive d and were at least 28 d of age. All calves were weaned by 35 d of age, regardless of starter intake. Calves fed LF consumed more calf starter grain during the preweaning period and met weaning criteria at a younger age. This study indicates that supplementing calf diets with LF is advantageous to calf performance.
Joslin
R S
RS
Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824, USA.
Erickson
P S
PS
Santoro
H M
HM
Whitehouse
N L
NL
Schwab
C G
CG
Rejman
J J
JJ
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D003126:Colostrum; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000254:growth & development; D006400:Hematocrit; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin