The effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 sources of protein in starter on performance and blood metabolites in Holstein neonatal calves

Abstract

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 protein sources in starter<br><br>on the performance and blood metabolite responses of Holstein neonatal calves from birth to 6 wk of age.<br><br>Calves (20 males and 20 females) based on sex were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2<br><br>factorial arrangement, including soybean meal (SBM) and meat and bone meal (MB) with either fermented<br><br>colostrum (or fresh milk. Although sex and liquid feed<br><br>had no significant effect on feed intake, calves consumed<br><br>more feed intake on the diet containing SBM (15 ± 0.2<br><br>kg) than MB (13 ± 0.2 kg) during the experimental<br><br>period; also, weight gain was affected by both liquid<br><br>feed and starter. Liquid feed and starter had significant<br><br>effects on calf body size, including pin width, hip<br><br>width, withers height, hip height, and stomach size,<br><br>but no significant effects were observed on calf body<br><br>size between the sexes. Plasma glucose concentration<br><br>was not affected by sex, liquid feed, or starter. Plasma<br><br>urea nitrogen concentration decreased in the first 3 wk<br><br>and then started to increase during the last 3 wk, but it<br><br>was only affected by starter and calves receiving SBM<br><br>(10.18 mg/dL) had a higher concentration of plasma<br><br>urea nitrogen than calves receiving MB (9.6 mg/dL) at<br><br>the end of the experiment. Plasma growth hormone and<br><br>insulin-like growth factor I concentrations decreased in<br><br>all treatment groups from d 0 to the end of the study.<br><br>No significant effects were observed on plasma growth<br><br>hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations<br><br>between the 2 sexes, but they were significantly affected<br><br>by both liquid feed and starter. Results of the present<br><br>study provide useful information to apply to Holstein<br><br>neonatal calves during the first 6 wk of life when liquid<br><br>feed and 2 sources of protein in starter are considered.<br><br>Key words: calf , performance , blood metabolites