The effect of frequency of feeding milk replacer to pre-ruminant calves on respiratory quotient and the efficiency of food utilization

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. V. Williams ◽  
R. J. Fallon ◽  
J. M. Brockway ◽  
G. M. Innes ◽  
A. C. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Respiratory Quotient ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACTThirty-four British Friesian bull calves were used in experiments to identify diurnal patterns of respiratory quotient (RQ), as an indicator of substrate utilization and to measure energy balance when the same daily amount of milk replacer was given on either 1, 2, 4 or 6 occasions. Each calf spent two 4-day periods in an open-circuit respiration chamber followed immediately, in selected calves, by an 8-day period in a metabolism crate, period 1 starting when calves were 12 days of age and period 2 at 28 days of age. The amount of milk replacer given daily was 32 and 48 g/kg M0·75 during periods 1 and 2 respectively.Neither rate of live-weight gain nor the energy balance of the calves was affected by frequency of feeding. However, raising the frequency of feeding from one to four times daily significantly affected the pattern of RQ. Reduced feeding frequency tended to raise the mean maximum and lower the mean minimum values of RQ; reducing the frequency of feeding significantly increased the range in RQ (F < 0·01).The apparent dry-matter digestibility of the milk replacer was higher in 36-day-old than in 20-day-old calves (0·93 v. 0·88; s.e.d. 0·011, P < 0·01). The effect was mainly due to an increase in the digestibility of fat (0·82 v. 0·73; s.e.d. 0·019). In 20-day-old calves, there was a linear increase in fat digestibility with increased frequency of feeding (P < 0·01) rising from 0·67 in calves given milk once daily to 0·85 when milk was given in six meals.The results suggest that calves given milk replacer once daily (at a level of intake of 32 rising to 48 g milk powder per kg M0·75) do not pass through a diurnal period of severe nutrient deprivation and that raising frequency of feeding would do little to improve efficiency of energy utilization.

A note on the performance and management of calves reared on cold acidified milk replacer fed ad libitum

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Thickett ◽  
N. H. Cuthbert ◽  
T. D. A. Brigstocke ◽  
M. A. Lindeman ◽  
P. N. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Milk Powder ◽  
Skim Milk ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Skim Milk Powder ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Bull Calves ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Dry Food

ABSTRACTResults are presented from six trials dealing with aspects of management on the cold ad libitum system of calf rearing using an acidified milk replacer containing over 600 g skim milk powder per kg.Thirty-six calves were housed in pens of six for each trial and were fed through a teat and pipeline from a storage barrel. Acidified milk replacer, pH 5·6, was mixed cold at 125 g/1 and made available ad libitum to 3 weeks. A rationed allowance was given daily, on a reducing scale, over the following 2 weeks with weaning completed at 35 days. A pelleted dry food containing 180 g crude protein per kg, together with water in buckets and barley straw in racks, was available ad libitum throughout. Each trial lasted 8 weeks. Results for the mean of the six cold ad libitum trials involving 216 calves were compared with the mean results of 10 conventional bucket-fed trials carried out separately at the same unit, involving 912 calves. All calves were purchased British Friesian male (bull) calves.Calves on the ad libitum system showed improved live-weight gains of 9·4 kg at 3 weeks, 8·8 kg at 5 weeks and 7·5 kg at 8 weeks, compared with the conventional system. The consumption of milk replacer powder was higher in ad libitum trials at 29·4 kg cf. 12·5 kg by bucket but intake of pelleted dry feed was lower on the ad libitum system at 50·7 kg cf. 71·3 kg to 8 weeks. Calf appearance scores were significantly improved on the ad libitum system which gave the main improvement in performance in the first 3 weeks.

The effects of varying the quantity and distribution of liquid feed in lambs reared artificially

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Owen ◽  
D. A. R. Davies ◽  
W. J. Ridgman
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Measurable Quantity ◽  
Severe Restriction ◽  
Liquid Feed ◽  
Daily Allowance ◽  
Milk Feeding

SUMMARY1. An experiment to test the effects on growth rate of lambs to 15 kg live weight of 5, 7 or 9 kg of milk replacer powder given according to four systems of daily restriction is described and the results are discussed.2. Although the average age at weaning varied from 18 to 50 days according to treatment, the quantity of milk replacer did not affect the lambs' overall growth rate. Lambs deprived of milk consumed extra concentrates at a rate of 1·75 ± 0·219 kg per kg of milk powder.3. Although severe restriction of the daily allowance markedly reduced the growth of lambs during the milk-feeding period, they subsequently grew at a faster rate and there was no resultant major depression of overall growth rate. The lambs first consumed a measurable quantity of solid food when they were on average 21 days old and this varied little according to treatment.4. It is concluded that under the conditions of this experiment it was not economic to give more than 5 kg of milk powder and that it was not advantageous to adopt distribution systems that delayed weaning much beyond 20 days.5. The applicability of these findings to practice is discussed in relation to the possibility of treatment effects from the rearing period being carried over to the period beyond 15 kg live weight, and also to the possible effects of single penning versus grouping on lamb behaviour.

Growth and Carcass Composition of Implanted and Non-Implanted Heifers and Steers Reared Together

1986 ◽  
Vol 1986 ◽  
pp. 23-23
Author(s):  
M. G. Keane ◽  
M. J. Drennan
Keyword(s):  
Present Experiment ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Sex Type ◽  
The Mean

The national cow herd consists of 1.64m dairy and 0.43m beef cows. They produce a total of 1.76m reared calves annually. Of these 0.42m heifers go as herd replacements, leaving 0.46m heifers and 0.88m males available for beef production. There is a 2:l ratio of males to femaies in the population of calves available for beef production. Also, there are few straightbred dairy heifer calves available and the mean birth date of heifer calves for beef production is later than that cf males. The objectives of the present experiment were (i) to compare the performance and carcass composition of non-implanted and implanted heifers and steers and (ii) to compare the carcass composition of serially slaughtered non-implanted and implanted heifers.Sixty tour (48 female and 16 male) Spring born Hereford x Friesian calves (initial live-weight 45 kg) were purchased and reared on milk replacer and concentrates. After 81 days they were blocked on weight and assigned from within sex type to 8 treatment groups.

Genetics of food intake, live weight, condition score and energy balance

1999 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Veerkamp ◽  
E. P. C. Koenen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Score Change ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Selection For

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to investigate genetic variation for traits that are part of the food utilization complex and to investigate the scope for future genetic improvement of traits possibly linked to metabolic stress: live weight (change), condition score (change) and energy balance. Many aspects of the food utilization complex appear to be heritable and are affected by genetic selection for yield. In general, genetic selection for yield increases intake and body tissue mobilization and energy balance is expected to decrease. However, unfavourable effects of genetic selection can be compensated for by measuring additional traits to be included in breeding programmes. Food intake, live weight (change) and condition score (change) are all potential options. Which traits should be measured, at what lactation stages and in which (nutritional) environment will merely depend on the coheritability with health and fertility, the genetic correlation with milk yield and the cost of measuring the trait effectively in a breeding programme.

An examination of energy utilization in lactating dairy cows receiving a total mixed ration based on maize silage

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Cammell ◽  
D. E. Beever ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
J. France ◽  
the late G. Alderman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mean Value ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Total Mixed Ration ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
The Mean

AbstractSix multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were offered a total mixed ration based on maize silage in a repeated measure design to evaluate the partition of gross energy (GE) during early to mid lactation. Four measurements were made at 6-week intervals with energy and nitrogen balances carried out in open-circuit respiration chambers over 6 days during lactation weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24. The intakes of total diet dry matter (DM) corrected for volatile losses (VCDM), organic matter (OM) and GE declined significantly (P< 0•01) as lactation progressed, although apparent digestibility of these fractions was not altered, resulting in a significant (P< 0•01) decline in digestible nutrient intake at each stage of lactation. Methane and urine energy losses were not significantly affected, resulting in significantly (P< 0·001) higher amounts of digestible energy (DE) partitioned to methane and urine as lactation progressed with associated significant reductions in metabolizable energy (ME) intake (MEI) (P< 0·01) and ME as a proportion of DE (P< 0·001) and GE (q) (P< 0·05). With advancing lactation there was a significant (P< 0·001) increase in the amount of ME partitioned to heat (HP/MEI), but no significant change in the amount partitioned to milk and tissue. Individual values for diet metabolizability (ME/GE) at actual (production) levels (qa) (mean 0·625 MJ/MJ) were corrected to an equivalent value at maintenance (qmc) (mean 0·666 MJ/MJ). The overall ME intakes (MJ/day) were: ad libitum, 246, corrected for level of feeding effect, 263, with a predicted ME requirement according to AFRC (1993) (MER93) of 242. Substitution of the calculated qmc into the predictive equations (AFRC, 1993) resulted in a mean maintenance requirement of 57·6 MJ/day (0·464 MJ/kg M0·75/day) whilst the mean value derived from the linear model describing the experimental data was 82·5 MJ/day (0·664 MJ/kg M0·75/day). The mean efficiencies of utilization of ME for milk production derived from AFRC (1993) and the linear regression model were 0·653 MJ/MJ and 0·625 MJ/MJ respectively.

EFFECTS OF FAT LEVELS IN MILK REPLACERS AND PROTEIN LEVELS IN CREEP FEED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARTIFICIALLY REARED LAMBS

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-381
Author(s):  
A. D. L. GORRILL ◽  
J. W. G. NICHOLSON ◽  
T. M. MACINTYRE
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Skim Milk ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Creep Feed ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Milk Replacers

Two growth trials were conducted to determine an optimum level of fat in milk replacer and an optimum level of protein in creep feed for artificially reared lambs. In experiment 1, milk replacers containing 31 or 36% fat (dry matter, DM, basis) were fed ad libitum to 58 lambs at 1 day of age. The protein was supplied by low-heat spray-dried skim milk powder and Na caseinate and the fat from a mixture of 10% coconut oil and 90% tallow. A finely ground unpelleted creep feed with 20% protein, on a DM basis, was fed ad libitum. The lambs consumed more of the 31% fat milk replacer and gained more live weight (288 vs. 254 g/day; P < 0.025) to weaning at 25–30 days of age than did lambs fed the 36% fat formula. Weight gains to 10 wk of age were 190 and 170 g/day, respectively (P < 0.10). In experiment 2, 84 lambs were fed a 26% fat milk replacer ad libitum, and creep feeds with 15, 20 or 25% protein (DM basis). The supplementary protein was supplied by herring meal and soybean meal. Weight gains of lambs to weaning at 24 days of age were similar on the three creep feeds. However, gains to 10 wk of age averaged 218, 235 and 244 g/day (P < 0.05) on the 15, 20 and 25% protein diets, respectively. One and 2 kg of DM were consumed/kg lamb body weight gain to weaning and to 10 wk of age, respectively. It was concluded that the milk replacer should contain 26–31% fat, and the creep feed 20% protein or more for maximal performance of artificially reared lambs.

scholarly journals Studies of method of conserving grass herbage and frequency of feeding in cattle

1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. L. Thiago ◽  
M. Gill ◽  
J. W. Sissons
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Daily Feeding ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Spike Bursts ◽  
Daily Total

The influence of the method of conserving grass herbage and the frequency of feeding on eating behaviour, rumen motility and rumen fill was studied in growing steers. Silage and hay were offered to twelve rumen-cannulated Friesian steers (average initial live weight (LW) 128 kg) at a restricted level of intake (20 g dry matter (DM)/kg LW) either once or eight times daily. With once daily feeding, the daily intake of hay was consumed in a single large meal which lasted about 2 h, while silage was eaten in many small meals throughout the day. The proportion of the day spent ruminating was higher (0·39) for steers offered hay once daily than for those offered silage (0·28) or hay eight times per day (0·29). There was little effect of conservation method on frequency of rumen contraction, but contractile intensity (integration of frequency and amplitude) increased during the second half of the 24 h feeding cycle in steers offered hay either once daily or eight times daily, while the same effect was only observed when silage was offered once daily. Total daily contractile activity (the integration of the frequency and duration of myoelectric spike bursts) was significantly (P < 0·05) higher in steers offered hay, compared with silage, once daily. The mean weight of organic matter in the reticulo-rumen of steers offered hay was significantly higher than for silage both with once (1593 v. 1326 g organic matter (OM)/100 kg LW, P < 0·01) and eight (1367 v. 1160 g OM/100 kg LW, P < 0·05) times daily feeding. The proportion of the particulate pool which was present as small (< 1·2 mm) particles was always greater than 0·60.

A study of the effect of supplementing a concentrate diet with roughages of different quality on the performance of Friesian steers. I. Voluntary food intake and food utilization

1970 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Stages Of Growth ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Metabolizable Energy Intake

SUMMARYConcentrate diets supplemented with 5, 20 and 40% of a high- and a low-quality hay were given ad libitum to British Friesian steers from 9 weeks of age to slaughter. The intake of dry matter and metabolizable energy was studied over weight ranges from 91 to 363 kg live weight. The quality of hay did not significantly affect the drymatter intake at any of the weight ranges studied. From 91 to 182 kg live weight the daily dry-matter intake decreased as the proportion of hay in the diet increased. Over the weight range from 182 to 272 kg live weight, intake was maximum at the 20% level of hay supplementation, while from 272 to 363 kg live weight, intake increased with increasing levels of hay in the diet. The supplementation of high-quality hay significantly increased the intake of metabolizable energy by animals weighing 91–182 kg. Increasing proportions of hay in the diet significantly affected the metabolizable energy intake at all stages of growth studied.At 18 and 36 weeks of age digestibility and N balance studies were carried out. The metabolizable energy expressed as a percentage of the gross energy and the mean retention time of the diets were significantly affected by the age of animal, quality of the hay and the level of hay supplementation. Nitrogen retention was also affected by the age of the animal but not by the quality of the hay.The relationships between the voluntary intake of dry matter and the metabolizable energy of the diet expressed as a percentage of the gross energy, for different stages of growth, are also presented.The change in the digestibility and the mean time of retention of the diets in the digestive tract with age and the effect of this on the point where physical regulation to intake gives way to physiological regulation are discussed.

The effect of climatic housing and level of nutrition on the performance of calves

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. V. Williams ◽  
D. Day ◽  
A. M. Raven ◽  
J. A. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
South West ◽  
Bull Calves ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Daily Milk

ABSTRACTFive hundred and seven British Friesian × Ayrshire bull calves were reared on a once-daily milk replacer feeding system from approximately 6 to 72 days of age in four naturally ventilated, unheated calf houses differing in design and degree of insulation. Environment within the calf houses was monitored each hour. Differences in design and degree of insulation produced small but significant differences in internal house temperature, humidity and air movement which had no measurable effect on calf daily live-weight gains.Calves receiving 0·6 kg/day compared with 0·3 or 0·4 kg/day of milk replacer plus concentrates ad libitum ate less concentrates but had higher daily live-weight gains (0·56 compared with 0·49 kg/day respectively) (P < 0·001). Rations supplying similar amounts of metabolizable energy from varying proportions of milk:concentrate resulted in comparable live-weight gains. Results suggest that calf viability was affected by level of nutrition and that low levels of milk replacer feeding resulted in higher mortality. Naturally ventilated, unheated calf houses were demonstrated to be suitable for rearing calves in south-west Scotland.

scholarly journals Effects on food intake, rumen development and live weight of calves of replacing barley with sugar beet-citrus pulp in a starter diet

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. V. Williams ◽  
R. J. Fallon ◽  
G. M. Innes ◽  
P. Garthwaite
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Bull Calves ◽  
Rumen Development ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Fibre Growth ◽  
Beet Pulp

ABSTRACTIn three experiments the effects of replacing barley with citrus or unmolassed beet pulp in starter diets for calves was examined. In experiment 1, 40 Friesian bull calves were offered to appetite from 14 to 91 days of age one of four complete pelleted diets, each of which contained 200 g ground straw per kg and n i which the ratio of barley to pulp (citrus and beet pulp in the ratio 1:1) was 100:0 (A); 67:33 (B); 33:67 (C) and 0:100 (D). All diets contained 12·1 MJ metabolizable energy and 187 g crude protein per kg dry matter (DM). Milk replacer containing 200 g fat per kg was offered once daily (0·44 kg/day) until day 49 when the calves were abruptly weaned. Up to weaning (days 14 to 49) and after weaning (days 50 to 91) intake of DM was significantly increased by replacing barley with pulp (P< 0·05). Intakes (kg DM per day) of diets A, B, C and D were 0·31, 0·44, 0·51 and 0·50 before weaning and 2·07, 2·08, 2·23 and 2·38 after weaning. Weight gains (kg/day) of calves given pulp tended to be higher before weaning (0·44v.0·58 for Av.mean of B, C and D) but lower after weaning (0·73v.0·68) than of calves given the cereal-based diet. In experiment 2, 65 calves were given diets similar to A and C except that the pulp was supplied totally by unmolassed beet pulp, they were given only 0·35 kg milk replacer per day and weaned on day 35. The results were similar to those obtained in experiment 1; between days 14 to 84 intake was higher (P< 0·05) and there was a tendency for weight gain to be higher in calves given the diet containing pulp. The DM digestibility of the diets decreased significantly with inclusion of pulp (P< 0·05); digestibility of nitrogen was severely depressed but there was an increase in digestibility of acid-detergent fibre. Growth rate was possibly restricted by the availability of nitrogen in diets containing pulp.

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