Solid feed intake fluctuation in dairy calves: effects of housing system and starter concentrate composition and physical form

• Grant number: 22/11495-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Grantee: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Host Investigator: Emily Miller-Cushon
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Florida, Gainesville (UF), United States

Abstract

The present proposal aims to obtain a research grant abroad to carry out several recycling activities, training in new research techniques in the field, and writing scientific papers at the University of Florida with Dr. Emily Miller-Cushon, who is a reference in the area of calf behavior and welfare. There will be great involvement with the completion of a major project conducted by Dr. Miller-Cushon, which will allow training in animal welfare and behavior, topics that should be incorporated into the projects developed by my research group, which are normally focused on the nutrition and metabolism interface. In addition, studies will be conducted to evaluate how the physical form, the composition of concentrates and the housing system affect the total consumption and the daily fluctuation in the consumption of starter concentrate in dairy calves during the preweaning period. For this, data of daily and individual intake will be used, which were obtained from 20 projects, most of them financed by Fapesp, which generated 31 articles, with evaluations of different compositions of concentrate, additives or other food managements. In addition, daily consumption data resulting from Dr. Miller-Cushon project, in which the animals were housed individually, in pairs or in groups, will also be evaluated. In this way, it is intended to understand the main sources of variation in the daily consumption of concentrates by preweaning calves. In addition, create recommendations for evaluating the daily fluctuation (appetite) of concentrate consumption to guide adjustments in feeding management and housing of calves during preweaning period. (AU)