Essential Oils and Prebiotics (STAY STRONG AND START STRONG) for New Born Calves

Stay Strong (SS) is a blend of essential oils (EO) and prebiotic fiber technologies. Start Strong also contains a colostrum supplement. Both products (Ralco Inc., Marshall, MN) are designed to diminish health challenges and stresses experienced by newborn calves, while aiding to establish a strong immune system and stimulate appetite. The study objectives were to determine the growth rate of calves receiving SS along or in combination with Start Strong (SSS) compared to a non-medicated milk replacer (MR). Sixty Holstein calves were blocked by birth date and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments. Treatments were: Control (C): a 24:20 all milk MR, SS mixed into the 24:20 MR at a rate of 0.05% (SS), and SS fed in combination with calves receiving 2-10 ml treatments of Start Strong at 12 hour intervals after birth (SSS). Calves were sourced within 2 wk in June 2016 from a commercial dairy farm. The 24:20 MR was fed via bucket 2 x/d at a rate of 0.28 kg/calf/d for 14 d, increased to 0.43 kg/calf until 35 d and was reduced to 1 x/d at 36 d to facilitate weaning at 42 d. Decoquinate was added to the MR at 41.6mg/kg for coccidiosis control. Calves were housed in individual Calf-Tel hutches bedded with straw having ad libitum access to a 20% CP calf starter (CS) and water. All data was analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS as a completely random design. Calves were similar (P > 0.10) in ADG (0.52, 0.55, and 0.52 kg/d for C, SS, and SSS, respectively) and body weight gains (29.1, 30.9, and 29.3 kg) through 56 d. Frame size gains (final-initial) as measured via body length (33.5, 32.8 and 34.8 cm), heart girth (39.6, 38.4, 37.8 cm), hip height (23.1 20.1, and 23.4 cm), wither height (25.7, 25.1, and 24.4 cm) and hip width (52.6, 56.9, and 53.1 cm) were similar for calves fed all treatments. Body temperature measured via a thermal imaging camera (28.1, 28.2, and 27.6^O C) were similar for calves fed all treatments. This study did not confirm our previous results of a growth response with SS, however the feeding rate used in this study was ½ of the feeding rate in our previous work. Therefore, the feeding rates may be below an efficacious concentration of the technology to enhance growth performance.