Invited Review: Nutritional regulation of gut function in dairy calves: From colostrum to weaning

Abstract

publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active. ABSTRACTPurpose: Published literature regarding calf nutrition was reviewed to create an information base for the implementation of proper nutritional management to maximize health and productivity.Sources: The main source of data and information for this review was peer-reviewed literature.Synthesis: Feeding a sufficient volume of colostrum during the first hours of life is crucial to calf health and survival; however, less is known about transition milk feeding and the potential benefits of the myriad of bioactive compounds it contains. After feeding colostrum and transition milk, calves are susceptible to diarrhea when moved onto high amounts of milk, and antibiotic use is often necessary to decrease disease. Feeding an elevated plane of milk nutrition results in increased ADG and, in some studies, increased future milk production. Thus, this nutritional strategy is recommended; however, weaning calves from high volumes of milk represents massive changes in the structure and microbiology of the gastrointestinal tract.Conclusions and Applications: Colostrum and transition milk contain an abundance of bioactive molecules that can positively affect gut development and microbiota. There is significant potential for the use of novel feeding strategies and microbial-based products as alternatives to antibiotics. Calves fed an elevated plane of nutrition in the first month of life have greater productivity and growth. However, weaning should take place later in life. Moreover, applying a proper step-down feeding protocol is recommended, as it allows calves to intake and digest sufficient solid feed for growth and minimize distress at weaning.

A survey of pre-weaning calf management in Norwegian dairy herds

“…It is now recommended to feed calves higher milk allowances for increased productivity and growth [18][19][20]. From the perspective of a high first lactational yield, the optimal prepubertal average daily weight gain of Norwegian Red cattle is estimated to 890 g/d [21].…”

A cross-sectional study of associations between herd-level calf mortality rates, compliance with legislation on calf welfare, and milk feeding management in Norwegian dairy herds

“…Important advantages of feeding higher milk allowances are related to the prevention of hunger (De Paula Vieira et al, 2008), a feeding pattern more consistent with the natural behavior of calves (Appleby et al, 2001), and higher preweaning growth rates (Jasper and Weary, 2002). It is now recommended that calves should be fed higher milk allowances for increased productivity and growth (Geiger et al, 2016;Fischer et al, 2019). In fact, recent meta-analyses have indicated that average daily gain preweaning is positively correlated with first lactational milk yield in adult life (Soberon and Van Amburgh, 2013;Gelsinger et al, 2016).…”

Prevalence and Multidrug Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli in Dairy Farms

“…An elevated plane of nutrition in the very beginning month leads into a greater productivity and growth. This is because colostrum and transition milk comprise a plenty of bioactive molecules that favors gut development and microbiota as well [32]. However, a transition from liquid pre-weaned feed to solid weaned calf feed needs to done carefully to reduce dietary stress and reduce morbidity [5,33].…”