Effects of the inclusion of maize silage in the diet of dairy calves on ingestive behaviour

• Grant number: 21/09461-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Grantee: Ingrid Matias do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The solid diet transitions calves from monogastric to polygastric state due to their key role of rumen stimulation, and the goal of solid food is that they consume the amount necessary to meet their nutritional requirements as soon as possible. It is recommended the initial supply of foods in the form of concentrates as their association with the development of ruminal papillae. And studies show that the inclusion of fiber derived from forage added to the diet promotes improvements in the consumption of concentrate, and consequently, in the weight gain of the animal. They are also benefited when it comes to behavior, since solid diet can be used as a way to mitigate behaviors such as non-nutritive feeding, which becoming permanent can affect the relationship between animals. In view of this, this research is based on assessing the effects of the inclusion of whole plant maize silage in the total diet of dairy calves against ingestive behavior, observing the occurrence of stereotyped behaviors, vocalization, and anticipation of rumination cycles in order to note the influence of solid feeding on the development, behaviour and performance of animals. For the experiment will be used 45 calves of the Dutch breed, which will be separated from their mothers at birth and properly placed. Upon reaching 21 days of life, the animals will be divided into blocks and distributed into three treatments, with 15 repetitions each: 1) Control - Bran concentrate with 25% NDF, without bulky; 2) 15% MS: Total diet with concentrate and 15% corn silage in MS; 3)20% MS: Total diet with concentrate and inclusion of 20% of corn silage in MS. The animals will be managed equally during the first 21 days of life, receiving 6 L/day of whole milk and will have ad libitum access to water and solid diet without voluminous. The behavior will be performed from the monitoring of the calves in weeks 7 and 10 of life, every 5 minutes, using ethogram with monitoring after the morning feeding for 6h, and 2h before and 2h after afternoon feeding for a total observation time of 10h per animal. (AU)