title: Effect of enhanced whole-milk feeding in calves on subsequent first-lactation performance.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of enhanced whole-milk (WM) feeding systems in calves from birth to 8wk of age on subsequent first-lactation performance. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design consisting of 2 treatment groups. At birth, 152 Holstein heifer calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: (i) 4L of WM/d or (ii) 8L of WM/d. The calves were bucket fed 2 or 4L of WM twice daily at 0700 and 1600h. Each calf was housed individually in temperature-controlled nurseries and had ad libitum access to water and textured calf starter daily. Calves consumed greater volumes of textured calf starter when fed 4 versus 8L of WM/d. Water intakes mirrored starter intakes, leading to greater water consumption at weaning. Calves reared on 8L of WM/d were heavier at d 56 than calves reared on 4L of WM/d. The average daily gain of the calves offered 8L of WM/d from d 0 to 56 was greater than that of calves offered 4L of WM/d. Structural measurements were significantly greater for calves that consumed 8L of WM/d. The differences observed in withers height and live BW due to WM feeding level were not apparent by 3 and 12mo of age, respectively. Rumen pH was higher in calves that consumed 8L of WM/d than in calves that consumed 4L of WM/d. Whole-milk feeding level did not affect age at first calving or milk-production parameters. These results suggest that enhanced WM feeding improved growth performance until 3mo of age. However, first-lactation results indicated no lactation-performance benefits of increased nutrition and growth performance during the milk-fed period in dairy calves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kiezebrink
authors.affiliation: Data Resource Center, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 4Y2.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cant
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. Electronic address: vosborne@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning
keywords: calf; enhanced feeding; first lactation; growth; whole milk