Abstract #M283
Section: Production, Management and the Environment
Session: Production, Management and the Environment I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
Session: Production, Management and the Environment I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
# M283
Performance and health of Holstein calves fed different amounts of milk supply with or without a symbiotic complex.
Marcos Inácio Marcondes1, Juana Chagas*1,2, Roberto D. Sainz3, Thiago Pereira1, Evando Filgueiras4, 1Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 3University of California, Davis, CA, 4Bioformula Leite, Gioânia, Goiais, Brazil.
Key Words: fecal score, milk supply, weaning
Performance and health of Holstein calves fed different amounts of milk supply with or without a symbiotic complex.
Marcos Inácio Marcondes1, Juana Chagas*1,2, Roberto D. Sainz3, Thiago Pereira1, Evando Filgueiras4, 1Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 3University of California, Davis, CA, 4Bioformula Leite, Gioânia, Goiais, Brazil.
The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and health of Holstein calves fed low or high milk supply (MSP) and with an inclusion or not of symbiotic complex (SYM). Thirty-two Holstein calves (34 ± 7 kg BW) with an age of 6 d were distributed in a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The MSP consisted in: low MSP - 10% BW for the 1st through 8th weeks after birth; and high MSP - 20% BW for the 1st and 2nd weeks after birth, 15% BW for the 3rd and 4th weeks after birth and 10% BW for the 5th and 8th weeks after birth. The SYM tested was Bioformula Leite (prebiotics, probiotics, and fibrolytic enzymes). Solid ration was supplied in addition to milk. Intake, ADG, diet digestibility, and fecal consistency index were evaluated. MSP influenced calf growth (P < 0.10), with different final weight (77.8 and 85.0 kg), post-weaning average weight gain (548 and 788 g/d), and final average weight gain (549 and 646 g/d) in calves fed 10% and 20% BW, respectively. MSP affected intake variables; calves fed 10% and 20% BW had pre-weaning dry ration intakes of 291 and 237 g/d, pre-weaning total DM intake of 715 and 1,672 g/d, and total DM intakes over the experimental period of 867 and 1,016 g/d. The digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and non-fiber carbohydrates were not different for both variables (P > 0.10): 0.73, 0.69, 0.77, and 0.92 g/kg, respectively. There was an interaction between MSP and SYM on the digestibility’s of DM and NDF (P < 0.10). The digestibility of DM (0.728 g/kg) and NDF (0.771 g/kg) of the calves fed 10% BW were not affected by inclusion of SYM (P > 0.10). On the other hand, for calves fed 20% BW, inclusion of SYM increased digestibility of DM (0.720 to 0.736 g/kg) and NDF (0.758 to 0.783 g/kg). The use of SYM improved fecal score of the animals (P < 0.10; 0.31 and 0.42, respectively). The milk-feeding level is an important factor in animal performance. In addition, the present study demonstrated positive results for the DM and NDF digestibilities, and animal’s health; Thereby SYM might be use as an option to control diarrhea.
Key Words: fecal score, milk supply, weaning
