title: Influence of weaning regimen on intake, growth characteristics and plasma blood metabolites in male buffalo calves.
abstract: Experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of weaning age on growth performance, feed intake, feed efficiency (FE) and blood metabolites in Nili-Ravi male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. Twenty-four male buffalo calves were assigned to one of the three treatment groups: continuous milk feeding (CMF), limited milk feeding (LMF) and early weaning (EW), and weaned off milk at 12, 10 and 8 weeks of age, respectively. For the first 3 days after birth, calves in all three treatments were fed colostrum, and were then moved to individual milk feeding at 10% of BW for the next 6 weeks. Thereafter, the provision of milk to the CMF group was gradually tapered to zero through week 12, using week 6 intakes as a base. The LMF calves were fed milk at 7.5%, 5.0%, 3.5%, and 1.5% of BW during weeks 7 to 10, respectively. Lastly, calves in the EW group were fed milk at 5.0% and 2.5% of BW at weeks 7 and 8, respectively. Calf starter (CS) feed was also provided ad libitum from weeks 2 to 12 and individual intakes were recorded on a daily basis. Blood samples were taken from weeks 6 to 12, on a weekly basis; whereas, the BW, heart girth, withers height and hip width were measured at the start of experiment and later on a weekly basis. Weight gain, average daily gain, and body measurements were the same across all three groups. Milk intake was lower (P < 0.05), whereas CS intake was greater (P < 0.05) in the EW calves compared with the other treatment groups. Dry matter intake was greater (P < 0.05) in the EW and LMF calves compared with the CMF calves. The FE was greater (P < 0.05) in the CMF calves compared with the LMF and EW treatment groups. Blood glucose concentration was similar among the treatments; however, blood urea nitrogen was greater (P < 0.05) in the EW calves compared with the CMF and LMF groups. Plasma concentration of non-esterified fatty acids was higher (P < 0.05) in the EW calves compared with the CMF calves. In light of these results, it is evident that buffalo calves can be successfully weaned as early as 8 weeks of age without negatively affecting their growth performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jabbar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ijaz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yousaf
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000662:veterinary; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000254:growth & development*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005227:Fatty Acids