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1303
Evaluation of stay strong for new born dairy calves
Stay Strong (SS) is a blend of essential oils designed to help diminish health challenges and stresses experienced by newborn calves. Current feeding inclusion rates are unknown in order to achieve optimal performance in the first 8 weeks of life. Study objectives were to determine feeding inclusion rates of SS when added to milk replacer (MR) to achieve optimal performance, while comparing performance to a yeast cell wall (YCM) gut health technology. 100 Holstein calves were used for the study blocked by birth date and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments; 24:20 control MR (C), 24:20 MR with an inclusion rate of either 1.25g (SS-0.5), 2.5g (SS-1.0) or 3.75g (SS-1.5) calf/feeding, or 24:20 MR with an inclusion of YCM at a rate of 2g/calf/feeding. Calves were sourced from a commercial SD dairy farm where they were fed colostrum for the first 2d and then were transported to SDSU. 24:20 MR was fed at a rate of 0.28 kg/calf/d at 2x/d for 14d via bucket, and then increased to a feeding rate of 0.43 kg/calf/d at 2x/d until 35d. Feedings were reduced to 1x/d at 36d to facilitate weaning at 42d. Decoquinate was added to MR at 37.8g/ton for coccidiosis control. Calves were housed in individual Calf-Tel hutches bedded with straw with ad libitum access to a 20% CP calf starter (CS) and water. SS-0.5 average daily gain (ADG) through 56d was greater (P < 0.05) compared to SS-1.0 and YCM, and tended (P < 0.10) to be greater for C and SS-1.5. ADG averaged 1.44, 1.57, 1.41, 1.40, and 1.39 kg/d for C, SS-0.5, SS-1.0, SS-1.5, and YCM, respectively. Total gain was increased for SS-0.5 vs. SS-1.0 and YCM, with body gains averaging 81.2, 87.89, 78.32, 78.9, and 78.04 kg for C, SS-0.5, SS-1.0, SS-1.5, and YCM, respectively. Body length gain was similar among treatments with an exception of SS-0.5 having a greater gain vs. SS-1.5 (P < 0.02). Hip width was similar among treatments. Wither height gain through 56d was greater for SS-0.5 vs. C, SS-1.0, SS-1.5, and YCM. Hip height gain was also increased for SS-0.5 vs. C, SS-1.0, SS-1.5 and was similar for SS-0.5 and YCM. This data demonstrates that feeding SS at 1.25 g/calf/d to a 24:20 MR will enhance growth rates compared to calves fed a modified accelerated 24:20 MR and a 24:20 MR containing YCW technology.
Keywords: Calf, essential oils