Effect of Amount of Milk Replacer for First Two Weeks after Farm Arrival on Concentrate Consumption and Performance in Milk-Fed Holstein Calves

One of the most important productive difficulties in milk-fed calves after farm arrival is a transitory anorexia for first week of adaptation. This feeding disorder affects performance and health because underfed cattle may undergo a deterioration of digestive and immune functions with deleterious consequences on health. Increasing amount of milk replacer the first two weeks after arrival could enhance concentrate intake and calves’ vitality. Three hundred and fifty Holstein male calves (56 ± 1.5 kg of BW and 29 ± 9.3 d of age), from 2 herds, were used in a randomized design to evaluate the effect of increasing amount of milk replacer on concentrate intake and performance in milk-fed calves throughout a 47-d study. Calves were allocated in 16 pens of 11 animals provided with concentrate and straw feeders, and one water bowl. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 treatments according to the amount of milk replacer (23% CP, 19% fat; DM basis) received for first two weeks after arrival: a conventional program (CON) vs. a rescue program (RES). CON program consisted of 360 g/d on week 1, 330 g/d on weeks 2 and 3, 300 g/d on week 4, and 210 g/d on week 5. RES program provided 600 and 500 g/d on weeks 1 and 2, and 300 and 150 g/d on weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Starter (2.93 Mcal of ME/kg, 16% CP; DM basis), straw and water were offered ad libitum. Milk replacer intake and health status were recorded daily, and concentrate and straw intake, and BW weekly. Performance data were analyzed using a mixed-effects model with repeated measures, and health status data with a Chi-square test. RES calves tended (P = 0.09) to have a greater final BW than CON at d 47 of study. An interaction between treatment and week was observed in concentrate consumption and ADG. RES calves had a greater (P < 0.01) concentrate consumption compared with CON at weeks 5 and 6 (2.0 vs. 1.6 and 2.5 vs. 2.3 ± 0.08 kg/d, respectively). RES calves exhibited a greater (P < 0.01) ADG than CON at weeks 1 and 6 (0.57 vs. 0.31 and 1.07 vs. 0.95 ± 0.056 kg/d, respectively). In conclusion, increasing the amount of milk replacer during the first two weeks after arrival improved the final BW, ADG at first week, and increased concentrate consumption the weeks 5 and 6.