Changes in energy metabolism and performance of dairy calves on conventional or intensive milk replacer feeding program

• Grant number: 10/16175-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Grantee: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Flávio Augusto Portela Santos ; Gerson Barreto Mourão ; Roberto Sartori Filho

Abstract

The objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of different feeding systems, conventional or intensive on performance and changes in energy metabolism of calves. Thirty newborn calves will be utilized in completely randomized design. After the period of colostrum feeding, animals will be housed in individual hutches, with free access to water, and will receive the starter and commercial liquid diet as the three feeding systems: 1) Conventional: 10% of BW (approximately 4 L / day) , 2) Intensive: 20% of BW (approximately 8 L / day), 3) Scheduled: Week 1: 10% of PV, 2 weeks to 6 weeks: 20% of PV, and weeks 7 and 8: 10% of PV . Weaning of animals shall be carried out abruptly in the 8th. weeks of life. After coast-cross hay will be provided and the weekly consumption will be monitored. The animals will be weighed at birth and weekly until 10 weeks of life as well as and body growth measurements. The fecal score will be evaluated daily. Liver biopsies will be performed at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 10 of life for determination of the enzymes pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Weekly, from the 2nd week of life, blood sampling will be taken 2 hours after feeding in the morning for glucose, lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea nitrogen detremination in plasma. Also from the 2nd. weeks of life, two hours after morning feeding, rumen fluid will be sampled, with the help of vacuum pump and probe for pH, short chain fatty acids and ammonia-N determination. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE PAULA, M. R.; OLTRAMARI, C. E.; SILVA, J. T.; GALLO, M. P. C.; MOURAO, G. B.; BITTAR, C. M. M.. Intensive liquid feeding of dairy calves with a medium crude protein milk replacer: Effects on performance, rumen, and blood parameters. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 100, n. 6, p. 4448-4456, JUN 2017. (10/16175-6)