Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding two levels of fat in an accelerated feeding program. Holstein bull calves (n=120), less than 7 d of age were purchased from an area sale barn. Using a randomized completed block design, calves were assigned by weight to milk replacer diets: 1) a control diet of 20% of DM as protein and fat (CONTROL) 2) 25% and 20% of DM as protein and fat respectively (HP) or 3) 25% and 15% of DM as protein and fat, respectively (HPLF). Diet 1 was fed at 454 g/d (12% DM) while diets 2 and 3 were fed at 675 g/d (18% DM). Calves were housed in individual hutches with water available free choice from d 0. A high quality, commercial calf starter was available free choice beginning at d 7. Feed intake, incidence of scours and antibiotic treatments were recorded daily. Calves were weighed weekly. Calves were weaned at a minimum of 42 d with weaning dependent on the calf eating a minimum of 454 g of calf starter for 3 consecutive d. Calves fed HP and HPLF were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than calves fed the CONTROL for the entire trial beginning on d 7. On d 14, calves on the CONTROL diet had gained only 0.83 kg, while calves receiving HP and HPLF diets gained 3.55 and 4.02 kg, respectively. ADG were greater for calves fed HPLF (708 g/d) and HP (654 g/d) than for calves fed CONTROL (522 g/d, P<0.05). Numerically, calves fed HPLF had the heaviest body weights (83.25 kg) compared to HP (80.45 kg) and CONTROL (72.74 kg). Feed efficiencies were significantly improved (P<0.05) for calves fed HPLF (0.55 kg/kg) and HP (0.54 kg/kg) than calves fed CONTROL (0.50 kg/kg). Numerically, total starter intakes were greater for calves fed HPLF (47.5 kg) than for calves fed HP (42.1 kg) and CONTROL (41.9 kg). All calves averaged less than 1 d scouring and less than 3 d treated with antibiotics with no differences between treatments. Feeding lower levels of fat in an accelerated feeding program improves growth and efficiency of young dairy calves.
|
Introduction
Enhancing calf milk replacer feeding programs by using an accelerated feeding program has become popular in today's dairy industry. High fat contents in calf milk replacers have been found to decrease lean tissue deposition. The purpose of this study was to determine if feeding a lower level of fat in an accelerated feeding program would be beneficial to calf performance.
|
Objective
To compare the effects of feeding two levels of fat in an accelerated milk replacer feeding program.
|
Materials and Methods
Animals and housing:
- 60 Holstein Bull calves
- purchased from an area sale barn
- Calves were housed in individual hutches
Feeding
- Milk Replacer:
- Control (CONTROL):
20% CP, 20% Fat
fed at 454g/d, reconstituted to 12% DM
- High Protein (HP)
25% CP, 20% Fat
Fed at 675g/d, reconstituted to 18% DM
- High Protein, Low Fat (HPLF)
25% CP, 15% Fat
fed at 675g/d reconstituted to 18% DM
- Calf Starter:
- Fed free choice beginning on d 7
- Water
- Fed free choice beginning on d 0
- Weaning
- Calves were weaned at a minimum of 42 d with weaning dependent on the calf eating a minimum of 454g for 3 consecutive d.
Data Collection
- Weights recorded weekly
- Serum IgG levels collected on d0
- Fecal scores recorded daily on a scale of 1 to 4
- 1 = very firm, 4 = extremely watery
- Antibiotic treatments recorded daily
|
Table 1
Table 1. Treatment means of growth, feed intake and health for calves fed a control diet (20% CP and 20% fat, CONTROL), high protein diet ( 25%CP and 20% fat, HP) or high protein, low fat 25%CP and 15%fat, HPLF).
| Treatment |
| Item |
CONTROL |
HP |
HPLF |
| ADG, kg |
0.518 |
0.649 |
0.701 |
| Total Weight Gain, kg |
28.99 |
36.35 |
39.26 |
| Feed Efficiency, kg/kg |
0.50 |
0.54 |
0.55 |
| Total Starter Intake, kg |
42.0 |
41.8 |
47.1 |
| Scours, d |
0.804 |
0.854 |
0.654 |
| Treated, d |
2.813 |
2.382 |
2.431 |
|
|
Figure 1
Effect of Milk Replacer Diet on Average Daily Feed Intake
| Figure 1. Average weekly feed intakes (g) for calves fed a control diet (20% Cpand 20% fat, CONTROL), high protein diet ( 25%CP and 20% fat, HP) or high protein, low fat 25%CP and 15%fat, HPLF). Calf starter was offered free choice beginning on d7 of the trial. |
|
Figure 2
Effect of Milk Replacer Diet on Average Weekly Weight Gain
| Figure 2. Average weekly weight (kg) for calves fed a control diet (20% CP fat, CONTROL), high protein diet ( 25%CP and 20% fat, HP) or high protein, low fat 25%CP and 15%fat, HPLF). Weights were collected on arrival and then once weekly. |
|
Summary and Conclusions
Summary
Weight gains were greatest for calves fed an accelerated diet with lower levels of fat.
Feed efficiencies were highest for calves fed the accelerated diet containing lower levels of fat.
ADG were highest for calves fed the accelerated diet containing lower levels of fat
Conclusion
In the current study, feeding lower levels of fat in an accelerated feeding program improved growth and feed efficiency of young dairy calves.
|
