BRIEF COMMUNICATION: The effect of increasing the nutrient and amino acid concentration of whole milk diets on dairy heifer individual feed intake, growth and development rates

Margerison, J K; Robarts, A D J; Laven, R A; Reynolds, G W

Abstract

Whole milk is known to less than an ideal feed for growing dairy heifers. Higher early (< 3 mo.) growth and development rates of dairy heifers, achieved with lower dietary fat and increased protein levels, and higher proportion of mature weight at parturition has been found to increase the milk production potential of dairy heifers. The aim of this research was to compare the effect of offering whole milk with added carbohydrate and amino acids on the growth, development and weaning age of Holstein Friesian dairy heifers. A total of 60 calves were selected at random and allocated (24 h of age) according to; birth date, breed, stature and live weight to one of three treatments; 0 to 18 d all were offered milk and probiotics and at 21 days of age calves were offered either; 4 l/h/d of whole milk (M), 4 l/h/d of whole milk, plus 200 g plant extracts (MP) 200 g plant extracts with amino acids (MPA) along with ad libitum cereal based calf feed and cereal straw. All calves weaned at set target weight of 90 kg, when calves were limited to 2 kg/h/d cereal based calf with ad libitum pasture. Total milk used (l) was; M: 333, MP: 315.4, MPA: 302.1 and plant extract used (kg FM) was; M: 0, MP: 11.6, MPA: 10.9. Cereal based calf feed intake was significantly lower for calves offered MPA during the milk feeding period (kg FM) (M: 68.3a MP: 60.9ab, MPA: 56.9b (SEM 2.57) P = 0.012) as was total cereal based feed intake (kg FM) (M: 82.3a, MP: 74.9ab, MPA: 70.9b, (SEM 2.57) P = 0.012), while straw intake (kg FM) did not differ significantly (26.8, 24.5, 22.5 (1.4) P = 0.098). Calves offered MPA had significantly higher mean weight gain (g/d) (M: 765.5b, MP: 814.9ab, MPA: 876.3a (SEM 25.25), P = 0.008) and had a lower number of days to weaning from milk (M: 83.26a, MP: 78.84ab, MPA: 75.53b (SEM 1.88), P = 0.012) and a higher mean hip width gain (mm) (M: 6.1b, MP: 6.6ab, MPA: 7.4a, (SEM 0.34), P = 0.033), while mean gain in hip height did not differ (M: 14.0, MP: 15.6, MPA: 15.9 (SEM 1.16) P = 0.476) compared with calves offered whole milk.

Citation

Margerison, J. K., Robarts, A. D. J., Laven, R. A., & Reynolds, G. W. (2010, August). BRIEF COMMUNICATION: The effect of increasing the nutrient and amino acid concentration of whole milk diets on dairy heifer individual feed intake, growth and development rates. Presented at 4th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, Lincoln University, New Zealand

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: 4th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium
• Start Date: Aug 31, 2010
• End Date: Sep 2, 2010
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2010
• Publication Date: Aug 9, 2010
• Deposit Date: Apr 8, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 434
• Series Title: Proceedings of the Australasian Dairy Science Symposium
• Book Title: Proceedings of the 4th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium
• ISBN: 9780864762306
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/47550295
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciquest.org.nz/browse/publications/article/149579