Effect of various fatty acids on dairy calf performance

Abstract

The effect of various fatty acids on calf performance was evaluated in 3 trials. In trial 1, calves were fed a milk replacer with all animal fat or a blend of fats and with or without a blend of butyrate, medium-chain fatty acids, and linolenic acid (NeoTec4, Provimi North America, Brookville, OH) in a 2-by-2 factorial arrangement. Calf ADG, starter intake, feed efficiency, hip width change, and serum titers to bovine viral diarrhea and parainfluenza 3 vaccines were greater (P < 0.05) in calves fed NeoTec4. The rectal temperature increase after a Pasteurella vaccine was greater (P < 0.05) in calves fed the fat blend compared with those fed all animal fat and was less (P > 0.05) in calves fed versus not fed NeoTec4. In trial 2, calves were fed starters with A) 0.5% NeoTec4 10, 0% soy oil; B) 0.5% NeoTec4 10, 2.0% soy oil; or C) 0% NeoTec4 10, 0% soy oil. Calves fed starter A had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than did calves fed starter B or C. In trial 3, calves were fed 4 growers: A) control, B) 0.25% Flaxtech (Virtus Nutrition LLC, Corcoran, CA), C) 0.5% NeoTec4 10, and D) 1.5% soy oil. Calf ADG was greatest (P < 0.05) in calves fed NeoTec4 and least (P < 0.05) in calves fed soy oil. Hip width change was greater (P < 0.05) in calves fed NeoTec4 than in calves fed the control or soy oil diet. Addition of soy oil to starter and grower feeds reduced ADG, whereas adding NeoTec4 to milk replacer, starter, and grower feeds increased ADG.

Inclusion of tallow and soybean oil to calf starters fed to dairy calves from birth to four months of age on calf performance and digestion

“…The use of oil from soybeans might have a negative effect on the diet because of its high concentration of linoleic acid. This was demonstrated in both the MR and starter trials of Hill et al (2011). Adding linoleic acid via soybean oil to diets elicited an inflammatory response in calves that contributed to the reduction in ADG.…”

“…Adding roasted soybeans to starters decreased starter intake and ADG in calves less than 2 mo of age when compared with lower-fat starters (Kuehn et al, 1994). Similarly, Hill et al (2011) reported that soy oil added to starters before 2 mo of age and fed in approximately 0.66 kg of MR between 2 and 4 mo of age reduced ADG of calves compared with lower-fat starters. More recently, Araujo et al (2014) reported that starters with soybeans were useful to provide extra energy and support additional ADG when MR were fed at approximately 0.69 but not 0.46 kg of DM daily.…”

“…Calves were cared for by acceptable practices as described in the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (FASS, 2010). During the preweaning phase, all calves were fed a 27% CP, 17% fat MR at 0.66 kg/d from 1 to 39 d in equal meals fed at 0615 and 1530 h, then 0.33 kg/d from 40 to 42 d in 1 meal at 0615 h. This MR was based on whey protein concentrate, whey, and lard as the major fat source similar to the MR 1 in trial 1 of Hill et al (2011). The MR were diluted to 150 g of MR powder/L.…”

Health and growth of veal calves provided a fatty acid supplement and a dry teat

“…For example, Hill et al (2016) fed NeoTec5g to male calves over 8 wk and found fewer abnormal fecal score days (fecal consistency score > 2; modified from Kertz and Chester-Jones, 2004) for those provided the supplement compared to those without the supplement. In contrast, Hill et al (2011a) fed NeoTec4 to male calves for 8 wk and found no differences in abnormal fecal scores between treatments. Authors suggested that this lack of difference may have been driven by an overall lack of abnormal fecal days (average < 1 d per calf).…”

“…There was no impact of our interventions on diarrhea in veal calves. In other studies, using a similar supplement, some studies have found reduced days with abnormal fecal scores for calves provided the supplement (Hill et al, 2007a, b;2011b;, and others have not found difference (Hill et al, 2011a). For example, Hill et al (2016) fed NeoTec5g to male calves over 8 wk and found fewer abnormal fecal score days (fecal consistency score > 2; modified from Kertz and Chester-Jones, 2004) for those provided the supplement compared to those without the supplement.…”