1555
Amino acids supplementation in the milk replacer for dairy calves
This study evaluated the performance and fecal scores of dairy calves receiving milk replacer supplemented with lysine and methionine (EAA) to reach daily intakes of 17g/d and 5.3 g/d, respectively; and two levels of AminoGut (Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition; 10% Glutamine and 10% Glutamic acid). Forty five newborn Holstein male calves were utilized in a randomized blocks experimental design, and distributed into three treatments: 1) Control: no amino acid supplementation; 2) AminoGut 0.6%: supplementation of EAA and 0.6% AminoGut; 3) AminoGut 1%: supplementation of EAA and 1% AminoGut. Calves were individually housed, with free access to water and starter concentrate, and received 6L/d of milk replacer (20CP:16EE; 12.5% solids), until the eighth week of life, when weaned. Calves were followed up to the 10th week of life. Feed intakes and fecal scores were monitored daily; while body weight and body measurements were weekly measured. Even though AminoGut has been proven to benefit animals affected diarrhea, there were no supplementation effects on fecal scores. Supplementation of 0.6% of glutamate increased starter intake, which may benefit animals going through the transition period. However, the low intake observed for all treatments resulted in modest daily gains and final weight, as it has been seen in other trials during summer tropical conditions. Supported by Fapesp, São Paulo, Brazil.
Table 1. Performance of calves receiving milk replacer supplemented with lysine + methionine, and two levels of AminoGut.
|
Control |
AminoGut 0.6% |
AminoGut 1% |
SEM |
P< |
Body weight, kg |
|
||||
Initial |
37.0 |
36.8 |
38.0 |
1.3 |
0.089 |
At weaning |
48.2 |
48.3 |
47.2 |
1.9 |
0.089 |
Final |
54.8 |
56.1 |
54.8 |
2.5 |
0.089 |
Daily gain, g |
|
||||
Before weaning |
246.8 |
270.6 |
218.7 |
48.3 |
0.756 |
After weaning |
430.7 |
548.4 |
560.2 |
79.2 |
0.418 |
Starter intake, g/d |
|
||||
At weaning |
104.6 b |
280.7 a |
248.9 ab |
58.1 |
0.051 |
Final |
1400.3 |
1226.9 |
1299.8 |
206.5 |
0.270 |
Total dry matter intake, g/d |
|
||||
Before weaning |
786.5 |
843.1 |
806.0 |
40.6 |
0.615 |
After weaning |
926.3 |
1089.3 |
1077.8 |
133.9 |
0.622 |
Height withers, cm |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.09 |
0.478 |
Heart girth, cm |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
0.17 |
0.846 |
Hip width, cm |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.04 |
0.825 |
Fecal score |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
0.08 |
0.398 |
ab means with different subscropts differ (P<0.5)
|
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Keywords: Glutamate, Lysine, methionine