Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T15:19:53.511Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparison of three different step-down feeding to weaning programmes on performance, body measurements and age at first breeding of Holstein heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2018

D. Zahmatkesh ,
F. Niazi ,
M. Hossein Yazdi  and
E. Mahjoubi
D. Zahmatkesh
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, 45371-38791, Iran
F. Niazi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, 45371-38791, Iran
M. Hossein Yazdi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Arak University, Arak, 38156-8-8349, Iran
E. Mahjoubi*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, 45371-38791, Iran
*
Author for correspondence: E. Mahjoubi, E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Performance of female Holstein calves (n = 60) were evaluated in three step-down milk feeding programmes: step-down 1 (STP1: 7.5 litres/day milk from days 1 to 21, 6 litres/day milk from days 22 to 42, 4 litres/day milk from days 43 to 63 and 2 litres/day milk from days 64 to 84 of the study); step-down 2 (STP2; 7.5 litres/day milk from days 1 to 21, 6 litres/day milk from days 22 to 42 and 2 litres/day milk from days 43 to 63 of the study); and step-down 3 (STP3; 7.5 litres/day milk from days 1 to 21, 4 litres/day milk from days 22 to 42 and 2 litres/day milk from days 43 to 63 of the study). Intakes of starter were monitored daily and body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and wither height (WH) were measured monthly. Calves in STP3 had lower dry matter intake between 22 and 42 days than STP2 animals, but starter intake was greater in STP2 and STP3 calves than those in the STP1 treatment between 43–63 and 64–84 days. Total ADG was greater in STP2 and STP3 animals than in STP1 calves. No effect of treatment was observed on breeding age, BW, WH or service per conception. In addition, conception rate at first breeding was not influenced by treatment. It was concluded that the STP2 and STP3 milk feeding regimes improved performance in calves and there was no benefit in feeding milk for longer than 63 days in terms of breeding outcomes.

Keywords

Calvesperformancestep-down feedingweaning
Type
Animal Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 156 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 265 - 271
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Appleby, M, Weary, DM and Chua, B (2001) Performance and feeding behaviour of calves on ad libitum milk from artificial teats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 74, 191–201.Google Scholar
Chua, B, Coenen, J, Van Delen, J and Weary, DM (2002) Effects of pair versus individual housing on the behaviour and performance of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 360–364.Google Scholar
Daneshvar, D, Khorvash, M, Ghasemi, E, Mahdavi, AH, Moshiri, B, Mirzaei, M, Pezeshki, A and Ghaffari, MH (2015) The effect of restricted milk feeding through conventional or step-down methods with or without forage provision in starter feed on performance of Holstein bull calves. Journal of Animal Science 93, 3979–3989.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Passillé, AM and Rushen, J (2016) Using automated feeders to wean calves fed large amounts of milk according to their ability to eat solid feed. Journal of Dairy Science 99, 3578–3583.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diaz, MC, Van Amburgh, ME, Smith, JM, Kelsey, JM and Hutten, L (2001) Composition of growth of Holstein calves fed milk replacer from birth to 105-kilogram body weight. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 830–842.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drackley, JK (2003) Accelerated growth and milk replacers for dairy calves. Risk and rewards. In Proceedings of the Midwest Dairy Herd Health Conference, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Extension, pp. 125–140.Google Scholar
Drackley, JK (2005) Early growth effects on subsequent health and performance of dairy heifers. In Garnsworthy, PC (ed.). Calf and Heifer Rearing, Nottingham, UK: Nottingham University Press, pp. 213–235.Google Scholar
Drackley, JK (2008) Calf nutrition from birth to breeding. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 24, 55–86.Google ScholarPubMed
Egli, CP and Blum, JW (1998) Clinical, haematological, metabolic and endocrine traits during the first three months of life of suckling Simental calves held in a cow-calf operation. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A 45, 99–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heinrichs, AJ and Heinrichs, BS (2011) A prospective study of calf factors affecting first-lactation and lifetime milk production and age of cows when removed from the herd. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 336–341.Google Scholar
Heinrichs, AJ, Jones, CM, Van Roekel, LR and Fowler, MA (2003) Calf track: a system of dairy calf workforce management, training, and evaluation and health evaluation. Journal of Dairy Science 86 (Suppl. 1), 115.Google Scholar
Hoseyni, F, Mahjoubi, E, Zahmatkesh, D and Yazdi, MH (2016) Effects of dam parity and pre-weaning average daily gain of Holstein calves on future milk production. Journal of Dairy Research 83, 453–455.Google Scholar
Huber, JT, Silva, AG, Campos, OF and Mathieu, CM (1984) Influence of feeding different amounts of milk on performance, health, and absorption capability of baby calves. Journal of Dairy Science 67, 2957–2963.Google Scholar
Hutjens, MF (2004) Accelerated replacement heifer feeding programs. Advances in Dairy Technology 16, 145–152.Google Scholar
Iranian Council of Animal Care (1995) Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Vol. 1. Isfahan, Iran: Isfahan University of Technology.Google Scholar
Jahani-Moghadam, M, Mahjoubi, E, Hossein Yazdi, M, Cardoso, FC and Drackley, JK (2015) Effects of alfalfa hay and its physical form (chopped versus pelleted) on performance of Holstein calves. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 4055–4061.Google Scholar
Jasper, J and Weary, DM (2002) Effects of ad libitum milk intake on dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 3054–3058.Google Scholar
Kertz, AF and Loften, JR (2013) Review: a historical perspective of specific milk-replacer feeding programs in the United States and effects on eventual performance of Holstein dairy calves. The Professional Animal Scientist 29, 321–332.Google Scholar
Kertz, AF (2009) Feed-restriction programs for growing heifers. In 20th Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium. Gainesville, FL: IFAS, pp. 125–136.Google Scholar
Khan, MA, Lee, HJ, Lee, WS, Kim, HS, Ki, KS, Hur, TY, Suh, GH, Kang, SJ and Choi, YJ (2007 a) Structural growth, rumen development, and metabolic and immune responses of Holstein male calves fed milk through step-down and conventional methods. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 3376–3387.Google Scholar
Khan, MA, Lee, HJ, Lee, WS, Kim, HS, Kim, SB, Ki, KS, Ha, JK, Lee, HG and Choi, YJ (2007 b) Pre- and postweaning performance of Holstein female calves fed milk through step-down and conventional methods. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 876–885.Google Scholar
Khani, M, Ahmadi, F, Ariana, M, Omidian, S, Sharifi, S, Ghaffari, MH and Beiranvand, H (2017) Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal quantities of milk at fixed or variable amounts per day during milk-feeding period. Animal 11, 1737–1744.Google Scholar
Kiezebrink, DJ, Edwards, AM, Wright, TC, Cant, JP and Osborne, VR (2015) Effect of enhanced whole-milk feeding in calves on subsequent first-lactation performance. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 349–356.Google Scholar
Korst, M, Koch, C, Kesser, J, Müller, U, Romberg, FJ, Rehage, J, Eder, K and Sauerwein, H (2017) Different milk feeding intensities during the first 4 weeks of rearing in dairy calves: part 1: effects on performance and production from birth over the first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 100, 3096–3108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larson, LL, Owen, FG, Albright, JL, Appleman, RD, Lamb, RC and Muller, LD (1977) Guidelines toward more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data. Journal of Dairy Science 60, 989–991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moallem, U, Werner, D, Lehrer, H, Zachut, M, Livshitz, L, Yakoby, S and Shamay, A (2010) Long-term effects of ad libitum whole milk prior to weaning and prepubertal protein supplementation on skeletal growth rate and first-lactation milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 2639–2650.Google Scholar
National Research Council (2001) Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cows, 7th rev. edn. Washington, DC: National Academies of Science.Google Scholar
Omidi-Mirzaei, H, Khorvash, M, Ghorbani, GR, Moshiri, B, Mirzaei, M, Pezeshki, A and Ghaffari, MH (2015) Effects of the step-up/step-down and step-down milk feeding procedures on the performance, structural growth, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 7975–7981.Google Scholar
Pollock, JM, Rowan, TG, Dixon, JB, Carter, SD, Spiller, D and Warenius, H (1993) Alteration of cellular immune responses by nutrition and weaning in calves. Research in Veterinary Science 55, 298–306.Google Scholar
Silper, BF, Lana, AMQ, Carvalho, AU, Ferreira, CS, Franzoni, APS, Lima, JAM, Saturnino, HM, Reis, RB and Coelho, SG (2014) Effects of milk replacer feeding strategies on performance, ruminal development, and metabolism of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 97, 1016–1025.Google Scholar
Soberon, F and Van Amburgh, ME (2013) The effect of nutrient intake from milk or milk replacer of preweaned dairy calves on lactation milk yield as adults: a meta-analysis of current data. Journal of Animal Science 91, 706–7012.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Svensson, C, Lundborg, K, Emanuelson, U and Olsson, SO (2003) Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 58, 179–197.Google Scholar
Van Amburgh, M and Drackley, J (2005) Current perspectives on the energy and protein requirements of the pre-weaned calf. In Garnsworthy, PC (ed.). Calf and Heifer Rearing, Nottingham, UK: Nottingham University Press, pp. 67–82.Google Scholar