1661
Supplementation of Lysine and Methionine for Dairy Calves on a Step Down Milk-Replacer Feeding Program
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of calves receiving starter concentrate or milk replacer supplemented with lysine and methionine to reach daily intakes of 17g/d and 5.3 g/d, respectively. Forty five newborn Holstein male calves were used in a randomized blocks experimental design and distributed into three treatments: 1) Control: no amino acid (AA) supplementation; 2) Starter concentrate: supplementation of lysine and methionine in the concentrate starter; 3) Milk replacer: supplementation of lysine and methionine in the milk replacer. Calves were housed in individual shelters, with free access to water, starter concentrate, and received milk replacer (20CP:16EE; 12.5% solids) according to the program: 4 L/d, until the 2nd week of life; 8L/d from the 2nd to the 6th week of life; and 4L/d from the 6th until the 8th week, when they were weaned. Calves were followed until the 10thweek of life. Starter concentrate and milk replacer intakes, as well as fecal scores were monitored daily. Body weight, withers height, heart girth and hip width were weekly measured. Supplementation of amino acids in the milk replacer resulted in lower total dry matter after weaning, which resulted on lower daily gain in the same period.
Table 1. Performance of dairy calves receiving starter concentrate or milk replacer supplemented with lysine and methionine
|
Control |
Starter concentrate |
Milk replacer |
SEM |
P< |
Body weight, kg |
|
|
|
|
|
Initial |
36.3 |
36.3 |
37.4 |
2.06 |
0.267 |
At weaning |
47.57 |
47.74 |
48.80 |
2.06 |
0.267 |
Final |
54.55 |
54.73 |
56.1 |
2.07 |
0.267 |
Daily gain, g |
|
|
|
|
|
Before weaning |
193.9 |
232.0 |
151.7 |
34.44 |
0.275 |
After weaning |
553.5 ab |
676.1 a |
344.0 b |
141.41 |
0.028 |
Starter intake, g/d |
|
|
|
|
|
At weaning |
306.1 |
348.4 |
180.2 |
68.21 |
0.423 |
Final |
1502.7 |
1615.61 |
1235.1 |
94.4 |
0.372 |
Total dry matter intake, g/d |
|
|
|
|
|
Before weaning |
793.7 |
850.2 |
787.6 |
20.98 |
0.078 |
After weaning |
1293.5 a |
1341.3 a |
950.6 b |
90.69 |
0.009 |
Feed efficiency, daily gain/total intake |
0.23 |
0.24 |
0.14 |
0.04 |
0.120 |
Fecal score |
2.35 |
1.83 |
2.02 |
0.35 |
0.640 |
Height withers gain, cm/week |
0.64 |
0.76 |
0.65 |
0.41 |
0.976 |
Heart girth gain, cm/week |
1.09 |
1.44 |
0.96 |
0.18 |
0.184 |
Hip width gain, cm/week |
0.33 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.03 |
0.889 |
ab means with different letters differ at P<0.5 |
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Keywords: amino acids, growth, weaning