Passive immune transfer, health, pre-weaning performance, and metabolism of dairy calves fed a colostrum supplement associated with medium-quality maternal colostrum

The objective of this study was to evaluate passive immunity transfer, health, performance, and metabolism of Holstein calves fed colostrum supplement associated with medium-quality colostrum. After birth, calves were blocked according to birth weight and date and distributed into the following treatments: high-quality colostrum (> 50 mg of Ig/mL; n = 15; 150 g kg-1 BW; positive control group); medium-quality colostrum (30-40 mg of Ig/mL; n = 14; 150 g kg-1 BW), and medium-quality colostrum (30-40 mg of Ig/mL; n = 15; 150 g kg-1 BW) + colostrum supplement (15 mL) given with the colostrum. Colostrum was given within the first 12 h of life in two meals by nipple bottle, and colostrum replacer was administered by a blister syringe. Blood samples were taken every 12 h up to 48 h of life for total serum protein (TSP) evaluation. After colostrum feeding, calves were fed 4 L of transition milking, split in two meals for a period of one to four days and received milk replacer thereafter. Calves were individually housed, with free access to water and concentrate and bucket-fed 6 L/d of milk replacer up to the sixth week of life, when they received 4 L/d until weaning, with eight weeks. Colostrum feeding protocol affected the TSP concentration in the first 48 h of life, while the concentrations of albumin, glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, γ-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase were not affected. During the milk-feeding period, the concentrate and total dry matter intake were not affected by the colostrum protocol, but increased as animals aged. Colostrum-feeding protocol did not affect performance or health of calves. Feeding colostrum supplement associated with medium-quality colostrum had no effect on passive immune transfer, performance, nor on the metabolism during the liquid-feeding phase. This is an open access article.Fil: Ribeiro De Paula, Marília. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Brito Rocha, Nathália. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasil. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Moura Silva, Fernanda Lavínia. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Gavanski Coelho, Marina. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Machado Bittar, Carla Maris. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Lysine and Methionine Supplementation for Dairy Calves Is More Accurate through the Liquid than the Solid Diet

This study aimed to evaluate the performance and metabolic changes in dairy calves supplemented with lysine and methionine in milk replacer (MR) or starter concentrate (SC). Male Holstein calves (n = 45) were blocked and distributed in Control without supplementation (1) and; Lysine and Methionine supplementation to achieve an intake of 17 and 5.3 g/d in the SC (2) and to achieve of 17 and 5.3 g/d in the MR (3). MR was fed (6 L/d) until the 8th week of life when weaning occurred. Calves were followed until the 10th week of age. Feed intake was measured daily. Weight and body measurements were registered weekly. Blood samples were collected biweekly to evaluate the intermediate metabolism. The AA supplementation resulted in lower body weight at weaning and week 10. Calves fed SC Lys:Met had lower SC intake and lower total feed intake at weaning when compared to control. Calves fed control had higher heart girth, hip-width, and plasma glucose concentration. The supplementation with Lys and Met did not benefit dairy calves’ performance nor metabolism in this study. Supplementation through the MR was more efficient than SC to result in adequate daily intakes of AA. Further studies are needed to understand the negative effects of AA on calf starter intake.Fil: Silva, Jackeline Thais. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Manzoni Torrezan, Thaís. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Brito Rocha, Nathalia. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Simão Slanzon, Giovana. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Ferreira Virginio Júnior, Gercino. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Maris Machado Bittar, Carla. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Supplementation of Lysine and Methionine in Milk Replacer or Starter Concentrate for Dairy Calves in Step‐Up/Step‐Down Feeding Program

This study aimed to evaluate the performance and metabolic changes in dairy calves fed in a step‐up/step‐down program and supplemented with lysine and methionine in a milk replacer (MR) or starter concentrate (SC). Male Holstein calves (n = 45) were blocked and distributed in the control without supplementation (1) and with lysine and methionine supplementation in the SC to achieve an intake of 17 and 5.3 g/d, respectively (2), and in the MR to achieve the same daily intake (3). MR was fed 4 L/d until the 2nd week, 8 L/d from the 3rd to 6th week, and 4 L/d from the 7th to 8th week, when calves were weaned. The calves were followed until the 10th week of age. Feed intake was measured daily. Weight and body measurements were registered weekly, and blood samples were collected biweekly. The lysine and methionine intake during the whole period was higher when supplementation occurred via MR. There was a supplementation effect for average daily gain after weaning, and the animals supplemented in the MR had lower BW than those that were not supplemented. Supplementation in MR decreased starter intake at the 10th week and total intake (g DM/d) after weaning. Supplementation with lysine and methionine in the MR or the SC did not benefit the performance or metabolism of dairy calves in the step‐up/step‐down program. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of amino acid supplementation on feed intake.Fil: Silva, Jackeline Thais. University of São Paulo. Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science; Brasil. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Torrezan, Thaís Manzoni. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rocha, Nathália Brito. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Slanzon, Giovana Simão. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Virginio Júnior, Gercino Ferreira. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bittar, Carla M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Thermoregulatory Responses and Performance of Dairy Calves Fed Different Amounts of Colostrum

This study investigates the newborn thermoregulatory responses to cold and the performance of calves fed different colostrum volumes. Thirty newborn Holstein calves were blocked by birth body weight (BW; 39.4 ± 6.5 kg) and fed different high-quality colostrum volumes: 10%, 15%, or 20% of BW, which was split and fed at 2 and 8 h after birth. At 24 h of life, calves were placed in a chamber at 10◦C for 150 min. Skin and rectal temperature (RT), heart and respiratory rate, and shivering were measured every 15 min. Blood samples were taken every 30 min. After the cold challenge, calves were housed in ambient temperature (26.8 ± 5.9◦C), with free access to water and concentrate and received 6 L/d of milk replacer. Feed intake, fecal score, and RT were recorded daily, until 56 d of age. Blood samples, BW, and body measures were taken weekly. During the cold challenge, prescapular temperature and total serum protein were greater for calves fed 15% or 20%. Leukocytes increased preweaning, presenting higher values for calves fed 20%. Even though there was a benefit for the calf submitted to cold stress on the first day of life, feeding higher volumes of colostrum resulted in no differences in performance during the preweaning phase. Nevertheless, calves fed a higher volume of colostrum (20% BW) presented increased immune responses during the preweaning phase.Fil: Lavinia Moura Silva, Fernanda. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Donizete da Silva, Marcos. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Manzoni Torrezan, Thaís. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Brito Rocha, Nathaliia. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Saladini Vieira Salles, Márcia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia Dos Agronegócios - Apta; BrasilFil: Maris Machado Bittar, Carla. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Acidified milk for feeding dairy calves in tropical raising systems

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of milk acidification in tropical climate conditions on dairy calves’ growth, health and selected blood metabolites. Thirty-two Holstein calves were blocked according to sex, birth date and weight, and distributed to the following treatments: 1. refrigerated milk kept at 5 °C (RM) or 2. acidified milk (with added lactic acid to a pH of 4.2) kept at ambient temperature (ACM). After birth, calves were fed colostrum and from the second day received 6 l/day of RM or ACM heated to 38 °C until weaning at day 56. Calves were individually housed with free access to water and starter diet. Feed intake and health problems were monitored daily; calves were weighed and measured weekly. Blood samples were collected weekly to evaluate the levels of metabolites. Feed intake, body weight and daily gain did not differ between treatments, but heart girth and wither height was higher for animals fed RM. The faecal score was lower for RM group, however in calves fed ACM it also did not suggest a diarrheal process (1.98). In addition, the first case of diarrhoea in calves fed ACM was later than in calves fed RM (15.4 vs 8.6 days, respectively; P < 0.01). So, the acidification of milk is an adequate method of preserving milk in tropical ambient temperatures. It resulted in health benefits to calves, delaying the first case of diarrhoea.Fil: Coelho, M. G.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Silva, F. L. M.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Silva, M. D.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Silva, A. P.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Cezar, A. M.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Slanzon, G. S.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Toledo, A. F.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Bittar, C. M. M.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Performance, mortality and fecal score of suckled calves with different liquid diets and rehydration therapies when affected by diarrhea

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da utilização de sucedâneo lácteo com alto conteúdo proteico de origem vegetal no desempenho e saúde de bezerros, e avaliar métodos de reidratação para o tratamento de diarreias. No primeiro estudo foram utilizados 33 bezerros da raça Holandês distribuídos nos tratamentos: 1) Alto volume e baixa proteína (AV/BP): 8 litros, 21,4% PB; 2) Alto volume e alta proteína (AV/AP): 8 litros, 23,7% PB e 3) Baixo volume e alta proteína (BV/AP): 6 litros, 23,7% PB. Os bezerros foram alojados em abrigos individuais, com livre acesso a água e concentrado. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos para o desempenho animal (P>0,05). Os tratamentos AV/BP e AV/AP resultaram em maior consumo de sucedâneo (P0,05). O escore fecal foi maior (P>0,05) para animais nos tratamentos AV/AP e BV/AP. Os animais nos tratamentos AV/BP permaneceram maior número de dias em diarreia (P= 3 na escala de 1 a 5. Não houve efeito das terapias de reidratação no desempenho nem em metabólitos sanguíneos (P>0,05). O consumo voluntário de água foi maior para os animais reidratados com Glutellac&reg;, mas o consumo total maior para os animais reidratados com Soro comum. As concentrações de HCO3 e Na+ foram maiores para os animais no tratamento Glutellac&reg; (P=0,088 e P=0,073 respectivamente), sendo a concentração de glicose também afetada pelo protocolo de hidratação (P0.05). The treatments HV/LP and HV/HP resulted in higher milk replacer intake (P0.05). The fecal score was higher (P>0.05) for animals in treatments HV/HP and LV/HP. The animals in the treatments HV/LP remained more days in diarrhea (P= 3 in a scale of 1 to 5. There was no effect of rehydration therapies for the variables related to animal\'s performance neither for blood metabolites (P>0.05). Voluntary water intake was greater for the animals that were rehydrated with Glutellac&reg;, however total intake was higher for animals rehydrated with a common electrolytes oral solution. HCO3 and Na+ concentration were higher for the animals in the treatment Glutellac&reg; (P=0.088 and p=0.073, respectively) being the glucose concentration also affected by protocol of rehydration (P<0.05). The HCO3 was increased from the first to the second day, the K+ and glucose reduced from the first to the second day, while the Beecf was variable according to rehydration therapy used. There was a significant interaction treatment x day only for the concentration of BUN (P<0.05). pH, concentration of Na+ and Beecf, were higher for older animals, while K+, hematocrit and hemoglobin, were lower (P<0.05). The voluntary water intake was significantly greater in animals rehydrated with Glutellac&reg;, which together with simplicity of use, form the main advantages of this rehydrating

Impact of Parenteral Maternal Supplementation with Trace Minerals and Vitamins on Neonatal Calf Antioxidant System and Growth in a Dairy Herd

Oxidative stress may affect new born calves due to high stress suffered around birth. We hypothesized that maternal supplementation with micronutrients and vitamins in late gestation enhance the neonatal calf’s antioxidant system, decreasing the occurrence and duration of diarrhea, and improving growth from birth through weaning. To test this hypothesis, 80 multiparous cows were cluster-assigned to treatment groups. Treated group (TG) cows received mineral and vitamin supplementation while control group (CG) cows received saline solution. Feed intake and fecal score were measured daily until the ninth week. Weight and body measurements were registered weekly, and blood samples were collected from postpartum cows and calves after birth and at 7, 14, and 63 days of life. Although CG calves had greater fecal scores (p = 0.01), diarrhea characteristics did not differ. Calves in the TG showed greater starter intake (p = 0.04). Feed efficiency showed a trend with treatment-age interaction (p = 0.06). Calves in the CG had wider hips in the first week (p = 0.03), but not by the ninth week. Total antioxidant status, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and haptoglobin did not differ between treatment groups. Serum metabolites showed no differences. Supplementation did not impact calf antioxidant system or growth in the first two months

Frequency of Neospora caninum-specific antibodies in bulk milk from dairy farms from Mar y Sierras Dairy Basin, Argentina

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of Neospora caninum based on the detection of specific antibodies in bulk tank milk (BTM) from dairy cattle farms in the Mar y Sierras Basin by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 98 BTM samples from 49 dairy farms were collected during autumn and spring of 2019. Additionally, 147 paired individual milk and serum samples were collected from two dairy farms to assess the prevalence within-herd by ELISA and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, serum samples). Additionally, 12 individual serum samples were also assessed to test the agreement between IFAT and ELISA (total serum samples 159). Noteworthy, 100 and 91.84% of 49 dairy farms were positive in the BTM in autumn and spring, respectively. For the within-herd individual samples, a good agreement between serum and milk results was obtained for ELISA and IFAT (0.86–0.90). This is the first study in Argentina in which milk samples were tested to determine the N. caninum infection status at herd and within-herd levels in dairy farms, providing a base for further research.Fil: Cirone, Karina Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Fiorani, Franco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: García, C. E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Armendano, Joaquín Ignacio. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Laboratorio de Análisis Bioquímicos y Minerales; ArgentinaFil: Hecker, Yanina Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Miqueo, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Canton, Germán José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Moore, Dadin Prando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentin