Growth and Development: Milk and Milk Replacer

摘要

The objective of this study was to compare the impact of milk consumption,health incidences, and growth between Holstein and Angus× Holstein F_1 calves fed through automated calf feeders. Daily milkconsumption, serum total protein (STP), pneumonia and scours incidences,birth weights and weaning weights were recorded on a commercialdairy farm from October 1, 2017 to January 30, 2019. Calves(n = 4,185; Holstein n = 2,912, Angus × Holstein F_1 n = 1,273) werefed pasteurized waste milk with a 30% protein, 5% fat milk enhanceradded at 20 g/L of milk through a Förster-Technik automated calffeeding system (pens = 16; feeders per pen = 2) for an average of 68 d.STP was taken between 1 and 7 d after birth (6.8 ± 0.69 g/dL, mean ±SD). Daily BW was estimated for individual animals using Legendrepolynomials to best model growth data. The effects of feeder, days onfeeder, incidences of pneumonia and scours, STP, breed and sex wereevaluated using a multiple regression model to predict body weightand total milk consumption. When predicting total milk consumption,4 variables were highly significant: feeder, pneumonia incidences, STP,and days on feeder (all P < 0.0001; R2 = 0.56). For each additionalday on feeder, total milk consumption increased by 5.7 L and calvesdiagnosed with pneumonia had reduced total milk consumption (0 cases= 484, 1 case = 468, 2 cases = 458, 3 cases = 440 and ≥ 4 cases = 420L). Six variables contributed to predicted body weight at 60 d: feeder,sex, total consumption of milk, and pneumonia incidences (all P <0.0001), breed (P < 0.04), and STP (P = 0.10; entire model R2 = 0.38).Calves were 7.0 kg less at 60 d if they were treated for pneumonia 3times compared with calves with no treatment for pneumonia duringthe pre-weaning period. Holstein calves were 1.4 kg larger at 60 d thanAngus × Holstein F_1 calves and males were 4.5 kg larger than females.Pneumonia incidences negatively affected both milk consumption andpredicted BW at 60 d. Overall, there were no breed differences in milkconsumption between Holstein and Angus × Holstein F_1 calves andHolsteins had a slight advantage in predicted BW at 60 d.