Effects of alfalfa hay and its physical form (chopped versus pelleted) on performance of Holstein calves

Abstract

Inclusion of forage and its physical form in starter may affect rumen development, average daily gain (ADG), and dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy calves. To evaluate the effects of forage and its physical form (chopped vs. pelleted) on growth of calves under a high milk feeding regimen, 32 Holstein calves (38.8±1.1kg) were assigned at birth to 1 of 3 treatments in a completely randomized block design. Dietary treatments (% of dry matter) were (1) 100% semi-texturized starter (CON); (2) 90% semi-texturized starter + 10% chopped alfalfa hay (mean particle size=5.4mm) as a total mixed ration (TMR; CH); and (3) 90% semi-texturized starter + 10% pelleted alfalfa (mean=5.8mm) hay as a TMR (PH). Data were subjected to mixed model analysis with contrasts used to evaluate effect of forage inclusion. Calves were weaned at 76 d of age and the experiment finished 2 wk after weaning. Individual milk and solid feed consumption were recorded daily. Solid feed consumption and ADG increased as age increased (effect of week), but neither forage inclusion nor physical form of forage affected these variables pre- or postweaning. Plasma urea N was affected by treatments such that the CON group had a lower concentration than forage-fed groups. Forage inclusion, but not physical form, resulted in increased total protein in plasma. Although days with elevated rectal temperature, fecal score, and general appearance were not affected by dietary treatments, calves fed alfalfa hay during the first month of life had fewer days with respiratory issues, regardless of physical form of hay. We concluded that provision of forage does have some beneficial effects in calves fed large amounts of milk replacer, but pelleted alfalfa hay did not result in any improvement in calf performance or health.

Effects of different forage sources as a free‐choice provision on the performance, nutrient digestibility, selected blood metabolites and structural growth of Holstein dairy calves

“…Results from some previous investigations in the effect of AH on starter intake have been inconsistent. Previous studies (Beiranvand et al., ; Daneshvar et al., ; Jahani‐Moghadam et al., ; Mirzaei et al., ) have found that the addition of chopped AH (as TMR) increased starter intake; however, Hill et al. () did not observe differences in starter intake when part of the starter feed was substituted by AH in dairy calves.…”

“…Physical and metabolic development of the reticulorumen is important both for easing the transition from pre‐ruminant to mature ruminant state and improving calf health (Drackley, ). The potential effect of dietary forage supplementation on the performance and rumen development in dairy calves is well established (Jahani‐Moghadam et al., ; Mirzaei et al., ). Provision of forage to young calves has been recommended because it has been shown to increase starter intake, average daily gain (ADG), as well as improve rumen fermentation (Jahani‐Moghadam et al., ; Mirzaei et al., ), stimulate the muscular layer of the rumen (Suárez et al., ; Beiranvand et al., ; Mirzaei et al., ), promote rumination (Hosseini et al., ; EbnAli et al., ) and reduce behavioural problems (Phillips, ).…”

“…The potential effect of dietary forage supplementation on the performance and rumen development in dairy calves is well established (Jahani-Moghadam et al, 2015;Mirzaei et al, 2015). Provision of forage to young calves has been recommended because it has been shown to increase starter intake, average daily gain (ADG), as well as improve rumen fermentation (Jahani-Moghadam et al, 2015;Mirzaei et al, 2015), stimulate the muscular layer of the rumen (Su arez et al, 2007;Beiranvand et al, 2014;Mirzaei et al, 2015), promote rumination (Hosseini et al, 2015;EbnAli et al, 2016) and reduce behavioural problems (Phillips, 2004). Recently, Hosseini et al (2015) reported that the inclusion of chopped alfalfa hay (AH) at the rate of 15% to the starter diet when calves were 2 weeks old, as compared with CON (no added AH), resulted in producing heavier calves with greater starter intake and better ADG through pre-and post-weaning periods.…”

Effects of physical form of starter and forage provision to young calves on blood metabolites, liver composition and intestinal morphology

“…A recent study conducted by Jahani‐Moghadam et al. () indicated that blood triglyceride, total protein and globulin concentrations increased with increasing solid feed intake in dairy calves. In agreement with our findings, these authors attributed the increased feed intake to the inclusion of alfalfa hay in ground starter feed.…”

“…() also recommended textured starters with a mean particle size of approximately 2000 μ m. It is well known that the inclusion of chopped forage in starter rations not only stimulates the physical abrasion of feed particles on rumen papilla (Beiranvand et al., ; Omidi‐Mirzaei et al., ) but also maintains the integrity and the health of the rumen wall (Suárez et al., ). Many reports have recently recommended improved particle size via forage inclusion to stimulate rumen development, DMI and ADG in calves (Terré et al., ; Jahani‐Moghadam et al., ; Nemati et al., ,b). In contrast to these studies, Hill et al.…”