We investigated the effect of reconstitution of alfalfa hay on feeding and chewing behavior, sorting activity, and health status using 20 neonate Holstein male calves (3 d of age; 40.3 ± 1.30 kg of body weight) that were assigned randomly to 2 treatments, a starter feed containing either 10% dry (AH) or reconstituted alfalfa hay (RAH), each consisting of 10 calves. Alfalfa hay was reconstituted with water 24 h before feeding to achieve a theoretical dry mater (DM) content of 20%. Both starter diets had the same ingredients and nutrient compositions but differed in their DM content (90.9 vs. 66.6% DM for AH vs. RAH, respectively). Calves were weaned on d 50 and remained in the study until d 70. Reconstitution of alfalfa hay increased the percentage of particles retained on 8-and 1.18-mm sieves, but reduced feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Feeding RAH tended to increase meal frequency (preweaning) and increased meal duration (pre-and postweaning), and thereby increased time devoted to eating without affecting nutrient intake. Calves fed RAH tended to have lower eating rate during the pre-and postweaning periods. Tendencies to concurrent increase in rumination frequency and rumination duration in calves fed RAH increased time devoted to ruminating during the preweaning period; however, a tendency to longer rumination duration did not affect ruminating time during the postweaning period. Calves fed RAH spent less time resting and standing and more time drinking during the postweaning period. Nonnutritive oral behaviors were not affected by treatment during the pre-and postweaning period. Feeding RAH decreased sorting of particles retained on 8-mm sieve compared with AH; however, calves in both treatment groups sorted for particles retained on 8-and 1.18-mm sieves and against the feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber intakes of particles retained on the both 8-and 1.18-mm sieves increased in calves fed RAH versus AH, with no changes in intake of nutrients retained on the bottom pan. Calves fed AH were more susceptible to develop diarrhea (odds ratio = 2.02) and pneumonia (odds ratio = 4.74) and thereby had lower chances of being treated. We found no difference between treatment groups for frequency and medication days of diarrhea; however, calves fed RAH experienced fewer days with diarrhea. Furthermore, frequency and number of days with pneumonia and administration of medication were greater for calves fed AH compared with calves fed RAH. Blood concentrations of total protein and globulin tended to be higher in calves fed RAH compared with calves fed AH. Overall, feeding RAH increased time devoted to eating by increasing meal frequency and meal duration but did not affect feed intake due to lower eating rate. Calves in both treatment groups exhibited feed sorting at the extent to which they balanced intake of nutrients and met their nutritional needs. Calves, in general, were healthy, but it seems that feeding a diet containing reconstituted alfalfa hay has a p...

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of partial replacement of whole milk with colostrum on the growth performance and health status of Holstein dairy calves. Neonatal heifer calves (n = 144; 2 d of age; 39.3 ± 0.82 kg of body weight, BW; mean ± SE) were assigned randomly to 3 groups with partial replacement of pasteurized whole milk with pasteurized colostrum at 0 (C0; 0 kg/d of colostrum + 5 kg/d of whole milk), 350 g (C350; 0.350 kg/d of colostrum + 4.650 kg/d of whole milk), or 700 g (C700; 0.700 kg/d of colostrum + 4.300 kg/d of whole milk) for 14 d; there were no refusals of liquid feed. From d 15 onward, the calves were fed with 5 kg/d of pasteurized whole milk, weaned on d 61, and monitored until d 81 of life. Throughout the study, the calves had free access to fresh clean water and calf starter. Partial replacement of whole milk with colostrum increased liquid feed dry matter intake (DMI) but decreased milk DMI; however, intakes of starter DMI, total DMI, metabolizable energy, crude protein, and ether extract were not affected by treatments. Overall, the C700 calves recorded greater weaning weight, final BW, heart girth change, feed efficiency, and average daily gain (ADG). The calves fed milk had a higher chance of having rectal temperature ≥39.4°C and general appearance score ≥2 compared with those receiving colostrum in their milk. Diarrhea was more prevalent in C0 versus C700 calves. The occurrence of pneumonia tended to be higher in milk-fed calves compared with C350 and C700 animals. Colostrum feeding resulted in fewer days with a rectal temperature ≥39.4°C, general appearance ≥2, diarrhea, and pneumonia. We computed Cliff's delta (effect sizes) of the extended colostrum feeding (C350 vs. C0, C700 vs. C0, and C700 vs. C350) on starter and milk DMI, ADG, BW, and feed efficiency. In C350 calves, the effect sizes (Cliff's delta) for milk DMI, ADG, BW, and feed efficiency were positive and small, but negative in C700 calves. Compared with C350 treatment, C700 treatment resulted in greater final BW with moderate effect size. Positive and moderate effects of feeding colostrum (C700 vs. C0) were observed on postweaning ADG and final BW. The findings showed that the inclusion of 700 g of colostrum in 5 kg of milk may be beneficial to the growth and health of dairy calves.

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This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of increasing dietary doses of fennel seed powder (FSP) on growth performance and health status in calves. Holstein calves (n = 48; 3 d of age; 36.3 ± 1.06 kg BW; mean ± SE) were allocated randomly to diets containing 0 (FSP0), 1.5 (FSP1.5), or 3 g/d (FSP3) FSP in milk (morning feeding; during the first month) and then in the starter feed (top-dressed; from d 31 until weaning on d 71). The calves remained in the trial until d 81. Weight gain and final BW were greater in FSP-supplemented calves compared with control calves. Heart girth and hip width gained more in FSP-supplemented calves compared with control calves. Body weight gain and frame growth were not affected by calf sex. The calves receiving FSP had a lower chance of having elevated rectal temperature (≥39.4°C) and a lower probability of suffering from diarrhea or pneumonia. The chance of having diarrhea, but not pneumonia, was greater in female calves. The chance of medication occurrence for diarrhea and pneumonia was not affected by FSP and calf sex. The FSP3 calves had shorter days with elevated rectal temperature (≥39.4°C) compared with the FSP1.5 (1.2 d; SEM = 0.10) and FSP0 (2.9 d; SEM = 0.10) calves. Days with diarrhea but not its frequency and medication days was shorter (4 d; SEM = 0.10) in the FSP-supplemented calves. Control calves experienced more days with pneumonia compared with calves fed FSP1.5 (3.1 d; SEM = 0.08) and FSP3 (5.4 d; SEM = 0.08). Calves fed FSP3 experienced shorter days (2.3 d; SEM = 0.08) with pneumonia compared with calves fed FSP1.5. Feeding FSP tended to decrease (1.6 d; SEM = 0.10) medication days for pneumonia compared with control group. The duration (2.2 d; SEM = 0.10) and medication days (1.3 d; SEM = 0.15) for diarrhea were higher in female calves compared with the male calves. Compared with the control calves, feeding 3 g/d of FSP may be more beneficial in improving the weight gain and skeletal growth (heart girth and hip width) and in reducing the susceptibility to and duration of diarrhea and pneumonia in dairy calves.

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