title: Intensive liquid feeding of dairy calves with a medium crude protein milk replacer: Effects on performance, rumen, and blood parameters.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different liquid-feeding systems using a medium crude protein milk replacer on performance, rumen, and blood parameters. Thirty newborn Holstein calves were blocked according to birth weight and date of birth, and randomly distributed to different liquid-feeding systems: conventional (4 L/d), intensive (8 L/d), or step-up/step-down (wk 1, 4 L/d; wk 2 to 6, 8 L/d; wk 7 and 8, 4 L/d). The commercial milk replacer (12.5% solids, 20.2% crude protein, 15.6% fat) was fed twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) until calves were weaned, at 8 wk of age. Calves were individually housed in wood hutches, with free access to water and starter concentrate, and to hay only after weaning. They were followed through 10 wk of age. Milk replacer and starter intake were inversely affected by feeding system. After weaning, starter intake and hay intake were similar among feeding systems. Total dry matter intake was higher during the liquid-feeding period for calves on the intensive system compared to calves on the conventional system, but conventional feeding resulted in the highest dry matter intake after weaning. Feed efficiency was similar among feeding systems before and after weaning. Average body weight and daily gain were not affected by feeding system before or after weaning. During liquid feeding, diarrhea occurrence was lower for calves on the conventional system; however, when calves on the step-up/step-down system were fed lower volumes of liquid feed, diarrhea occurrence was similar to that of calves on the conventional system. Plasma concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate were higher for calves on the conventional system, reflecting starter intake. Rumen pH, short-chain fatty acids, and N-NH3were not affected by feeding system. Feeding higher volumes of milk replacer with a medium crude protein content had no beneficial effect on the performance of calves up to 10 wk of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Oltramari
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: M P C
authors.initials: MPC
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, Brazil. Electronic address: carlabittar@usp.br.
authors.forename: C M M
authors.initials: CMM
authors.lastname: Bittar
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000367:Age Factors; D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000662:veterinary; D004435:Eating; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: fecal score; rumen development; starter intake; weaning; weight gain