Effect of initial time of forage supply on growth and rumen development in preweaning calves
X. Y. Lin A * , Y. Wang A * , J. Wang A , Q. L. Hou A , Z. Y. Hu A , K. R. Shi A , Z. G. Yan A and Z. H. Wang A BA College of Animal Science, Shandong Agricultural University, No. 61, Daizong Street, Taian, Shandong Province 271018, P. R. China.
B Corresponding author. Email: zhwang@sdau.edu.cn
Animal Production Science 58(12) 2224-2232 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16667
Submitted: 25 October 2016 Accepted: 20 June 2017 Published: 6 June 2018
Abstract
To determine the effects of the initial timing of forage supply on growth, ruminal fermentation parameters and rumen development in preweaning calves, 18 7-day-old Holstein calves of 42 ± 3 kg were randomly divided into three treatment groups. The dietary treatments were (1) milk and commercial starter diet (MS) control, (2) milk and starter diet supplemented with oat hay at 2 weeks (MSO2), and (3) milk and starter diet supplemented with oat hay at 6 weeks (MSO6). Starter feed and oat hay were provided ad libitum, and 2 L of milk was provided twice daily. Samples were collected at 64 days of age. Supplementing with hay increased the dry-matter intake; P < 0.05). The height, body length, heart girth and cannon bone circumference were similar among the three treatments (P > 0.05). The concentrations of serum glucose (P = 0.07) and β-hydroxybutyric acid; P < 0.05) were lower in the MSO6 group than in the MS and MSO2 groups. Rumination time was longer, and time spent on non-nutritive oral behaviour (such as e.g. licking surfaces, tongue rolling, wood-shaving consumption) was lower for hay-supplemented calves than for the control (P < 0.05). Although ruminal pH of hay-supplemented calves was significantly higher than that of the control, total rumen fluid volatile fatty acid concentrations were not significantly different among treatments. Calves in the MSO2 group had a smaller ratio of empty weight to slaughter weight (P < 0.05) and a larger total digestive tract weight (P < 0.05); the empty gastrointestinal tract weights were similar among the three treatments, suggesting that MSO2 calf weight gain may have resulted from intestinal chyme accumulation. Compared with the control, hay-supplemented calves had reduced rumen papilla width and epithelium thickness (P < 0.05), and no discernable plaque formation. Hay supplementation in the diet of preweaning calves improved the overall dry-matter intake, improved rumination, reduced non-nutritive oral behaviours, improved rumen pH, and ensured healthy rumen development; furthermore, productivity and rumen development were better in calves supplemented with hay from the second week.
Additional keywords: initial time of oat hay supplementation, productivity, rumen development.
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