Effects of two different rearing protocols for Holstein bull calves in the first 3 weeks of life on health status, metabolism and subsequent performance

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 2015-08, Vol.99 (4), p.737-746
• Main Authors: Maccari, P, Wiedemann, S, Kunz, H.‐J, Piechotta, M, Sanftleben, P, Kaske, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age at slaughter; albumins; Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Husbandry - methods; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn; blood glucose; body weight; calf rearing; calves; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle - metabolism; corn silage; Diet - veterinary; growth; hay; health status; Holstein; Housing, Animal; individual feeding; insulin; insulin-like growth factor I; long term effects; Male; male calves; metabolic programming; metabolism; milk; milk replacer; rearing; urea; weaning; weight gain
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12241

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of weight gain of calves within the first 3 weeks of life on health status and subsequent performance. Holstein bull calves were reared either intensively (IR; individual hutches and ad libitum milk feeding for the first 3 weeks of life; n = 24), or according to the established protocol [ER; 4 l milk/day in hutches during week 1 and 720 g/day milk replacer (MR) from day 8 to 21 in a group pen; n = 24]. Water, hay and concentrates were freely available to all calves. From week 4, calves of both groups were housed together in a group pen and fed 720 g MR/day; step‐down weaning was performed between week 5 and 10. Key metabolic blood parameters were analysed on day 2, 12, 21 and 70 of life. After weaning, all animals were fed concentrates and corn silage until slaughter at an age of 8 months. Within the first 3 weeks, average daily weight gain was threefold higher in IR calves in relation to ER calves (1.28 vs. 0.38 kg/day, p