Correction of whole milk solids according to two approaches: Performance and health effects of dairy calves

• Grant number: 21/04101-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal researcher: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Grantee: Amanda Moelemberg Cezar
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the study will be to evaluate the performance, metabolism and health of Holstein calves fed whole milk corrected or not to 15% total solids using a commercial product. Forty- five Holstein calves will be used in a randomized block design, considering birth weight and birth date as blocking effect. The calves will be housed in individual suspended cages until 14 days of age, and then individually housed in hutches until the eighth week of life. Calves will be assigned to 3 treatments: 1) Whole milk without correction; 2) Whole milk corrected with Nurture Corrector, using a fixed dose of 25 g/L; 3) Whole milk corrected with Nurture Corrector, using the daily Brix reading for correction to 15% solids. The animals will be evaluated until 56d, fed with 6 L/d of liquid feed and a commercial starter concentrate. From 57d of age, milk feeding will be gradually reduced (1 L/d) until complete weaning. Body weight and body frame development will be recorded weekly. The rectal temperature will be measured and the incidence of diarrhea by the fecal score daily. Blood samples will be taken weekly after 2 hours after the morning feeding to assess the biochemical and metabolic profiles indicative of rumen development. Data will be analyzed as repeated measures over time using the PROC MIXED package from the SAS.