Early Feeding Regime of Waste Milk, Milk, and Milk Replacer for Calves Has Different Effects on Rumen Fermentation and the Bacterial Community

Abstract

We investigated the effects of different types of early feeding on rumen fermentation parameters and the bacterial community in calves. Fifty-four Holstein calves were assigned to three treatments and fed whole milk (M), pasteurized waste milk (WM), or milk replacer (MR). Male calves were slaughtered at the age of two months to measure the stomach masses. The female calves were followed for six months to determine the body weight, blood indices, rumen fermentation, and ruminal bacterial community. At the age of two months, the average daily gain was lower, but the concentration of total volatile fatty acids was greater in the MR group. Starter intake and stomach mass were lower, but the isovalerate molar proportion was greater in the WM group. The blood indices and ruminal bacterial community of the WM group differed from those of the other groups. At the age of six months, the ruminal propionate molar proportion was lower, but the ruminal pH and acetate/propionate ratio were greater in the MR group. In conclusion, calves fed WM had different rumen fermentation and bacterial community during the weaning period, whereas feeding MR produced a long-lasting effect on the rumen environment.

Characterization of the Rumen Microbiota and Volatile Fatty Acid Profiles of Weaned Goat Kids under Shrub-Grassland Grazing and Indoor Feeding

“…Moreover, isobutyrate or isovalerate supplementation resulted in higher levels of Butyrivibrio fibrisolven in the rumen of dairy calves [58] and steers [59], as supported by a previous finding [60].…”

The Effects of Feeding Waste Milk Containing Antimicrobial Residues on Dairy Calf Health

“…The aim of the study by Zhang and colleagues was to investigate the long-term effects of different feeding regimes on the development of the rumen and its bacterial composition. Whole milk, waste milk and milk replacer were compared in a total of 54 Holstein calves [ 37 ]. The experiment began at seven days of age and continued until the calves were 180 days old in order to understand the long-term effects of early feeding on the rumen.…”

“…Three male calves in each treatment group were slaughtered at 58 days of age to allow for measurements of the gastrointestinal tract to be carried out. When waste milk was fed, a change in rumen bacterial structure was documented at two months of age [ 37 ]. At six months of age, however, this difference could no longer be detected.…”

Alterations in Rumen Bacterial Community and Metabolome Characteristics of Cashmere Goats in Response to Dietary Nutrient Density

“…Rarefaction curves, Venn diagram, bar and heatmap graphs were visualized by R software (version 3.1.2). The statistical significance of grouping was assessed by the analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) in QIIME 1.9.1 and it was determined by calculating p -value with 999 permutations [ 29 , 30 ]. Significant interactions between rumen bacteria were shown using Networkx.…”