Performance and development of gastric compartments of calves fed with cheese whey and transition milk

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate whether cheese whey associated with transitional milk or not, could serve as a suitable alternative to whole milk for calf rearing. For this, twenty-four male calves of crossbred Holstein-Zebu, were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments (8 calves per treatment) and fed for 60 days with one of the following liquid diets: i) 100% whole milk, ii) 50% whole milk and 50% cheese whey, and iii) 30% transitional milk and 70% cheese whey. There was no difference in food intake between treatments. The analysis showed that whole milk replacement did not alter the stomach weight or the ruminal cell proliferation when compared to treatment using 100% whole milk; however, the transitional milk/cheese whey group showed larger ruminal papillae. These results suggested that a transitional milk-cheese whey diet associated with solid food and proper nutrient complements might enhance the post-natal development of rumen papillae in calves, which might contribute to prepare them for weaning.

Morphological and Volumetric Characteristics of Holstein-Gir Crossbred Calves’ Stomachs Fed Diets Comprising Cheese Whey and Milk Powder

“…The results for intake of dry matter in this study were similar to the results found by Miranda et al (2019), researched with calves fed cheese whey. Along with the liquid diet, the animals received hay and concentrate, thereby having access to a greater supply of energy and protein, possibly stimulating the ruminal functionality, the production of short chain fatty acids and, consequently, the development of the rumen papillae.…”

“…Newborn calves have a smooth epithelium with no prominent papillae (Baldwin et al, 2004). by-products in the low-priced cheese industry and milk-powder factories (Miranda et al, 2019). The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of powdered cheese whey and milk powder as a substitute for whole milk in calf suckling up to 60 days of age on rumen development.…”