Hay intake improves performance and rumen development of calves fed higher quantities of milk

Abstract

Research to date has suggested that access to forage before weaning can limit rumen development in calves, but no research has yet addressed the role of forage for calves fed higher quantities of milk. This study compared performance and rumen development of calves provided high volumes (equivalent to approximately 20% of calf birth weight) of milk with and without access to hay. At d 3 of age, individually housed calves were randomly assigned to treatment (either ad libitum access to chopped grass hay or no forage; n=15 calves per treatment, 10 heifers, and 5 bulls). All calves were provided ad libitum access to water and starter throughout the study. All calves were offered 8L of milk/d from a nipple bottle from d 3 to 35, 4 L/d from d 36 to 53, and 2L/d until weaning at d 56. Solid feed intake and growth parameters were monitored from d 3 to 70. At d 70, males from both treatments were slaughtered to measure rumen development parameters. Overall dry matter (DM) intake from solid feed did not differ between treatments before wk 5. However, during wk 6 to 10, calves fed forage consumed more total DM (starter plus hay) than did calves fed no forage. Hip and wither height, heart girth, and body barrel at d 3, 56, and 70 did not differ between treatments. Reticulorumen weight was heavier in calves fed hay versus those fed only starter (12.77±1.29 vs. 7.99±0.69 kg with digesta; 1.89±0.05 vs.1.60±0.09 kg without digesta). Body weight without digesta was similar in calves fed forage or no forage. Mean rumen pH was higher in calves fed hay compared with those fed no forage (5.49±0.08 vs. 5.06±0.04). In conclusion, provision of chopped hay to calves fed high volumes of milk can promote solid feed DM intake and rumen development without affecting BW gain.

Effect of the Rearing System on the Establishment of Different Functional Groups of Microorganism in the Rumen of Kid Goats / Uticaj Sistema Uzgoja Na Uspostavljanje Različitih Funkcionalnih Grupa Mikroorganizama U Buragu Jaradi

“…This is consistent with reports by Baldwin and Jesse [22] and Khan et al [9], who revealed that calves and lambs do not consume signifi cant quantities of solid feed before two weeks of age. The rumen starter intake observed in kids in our study is similar to that reported by Luo et al [23] in Spanish kid goats at 5-6 weeks of age (21.7 g DM d -1 ).…”

“…The higher ration intake of AR kids compared to TR kids indicates that the alternative rearing system with weaning at 30 days of age encouraged earlier consumption of solid food. This is because there is an inverse relationship between the intake of milk and solid feed consumption [9,24,25]. Therefore, when milk supply is reduced or stopped the intake of solid feed increases signifi cantly [9,26].…”

“…Rumen development comprises anatomical (increase of size and weight), microbiological (establishment of microbial populations) and metabolic changes (absorption and utilization of fermentation products) [6]. There are numerous studies in which are described the effect of different feeding regimes and weaning ages on the anatomic and metabolic rumen development [6,7,[9][10][11]. However, studies on microbial development of the rumen in young animals are scarce.…”

“…Many authors have reported that supply of solid feed from an early age stimulates rumen development [7][8][9]. Rumen development comprises anatomical (increase of size and weight), microbiological (establishment of microbial populations) and metabolic changes (absorption and utilization of fermentation products) [6].…”

“…Newborn ruminants have no protozoa in their rumen environment, and it is well known that young ruminants incorporate the protozoa by inoculation from an adult animal. The salivation of food by an adult animal and the subsequent intake of this contaminated food by a young ruminant determine the beginning of the faunation [2].Many authors have reported that supply of solid feed from an early age stimulates rumen development [7][8][9]. Rumen development comprises anatomical (increase of size and weight), microbiological (establishment of microbial populations) and metabolic changes (absorption and utilization of fermentation products) [6].…”