Changes in Plasma Volatile Fatty Acids in Response to Weaning and Feed Intake in Young Calves

Effects of weaning age on plasma VFA were examined using 16 Holstein heifer calves. Animals entered the study at 6±3.5 d of age and were fed 1.8kg milk twice daily to 28 (early weaning) or 56 d (late weaning) and a commercial pelleted calf starter from 0 (early) or 28 (late) d. Blood was sampled onc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dairy science 1991-01, Vol.74 (1), p.258-263
Main Authors: Quigley, J.D., Smith, Z.P., Heitmann, R.N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetates - blood
ACIDE GRAS VOLATIL
ACIDO GRASO VOLATIL
AGE
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
BUTIRATOS
BUTYRATE
Butyrates - blood
calves
Cattle - blood
DESTETE
Eating - physiology
EDAD
Fatty Acids, Volatile - blood
Feed and pet food industries
Female
Food industries
FOURRAGE GRAIN
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
GRANOS PIENSO
INGESTION DE PIENSO
Least-Squares Analysis
METABOLITE
METABOLITOS
PLASMA SANGUIN
PLASMA SANGUINEO
PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX)
PROPIONATE
Propionates - blood
PROPIONATOS
RUMEN
ruminal development
SEVRAGE
TERNERO
VEAU
volatile fatty acids
Weaning
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Summary:Effects of weaning age on plasma VFA were examined using 16 Holstein heifer calves. Animals entered the study at 6±3.5 d of age and were fed 1.8kg milk twice daily to 28 (early weaning) or 56 d (late weaning) and a commercial pelleted calf starter from 0 (early) or 28 (late) d. Blood was sampled once weekly for 14 wk Total blood concentrations of VFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate were higher in calves weaned early. Difference between treatments was greatest during wk 5 to 8, after early calves had been weaned. Total VFA and acetate were both highly correlated with grain intake (r = .77), whereas propionate (r = .47) and butyrate (r = .56) were less highly correlated. Data indicate that blood VFA responded rapidly to dry feed intake, and adaptation to high grain diets was complete by 1 to 2wk postweaning.
ISSN:0022-0302
1525-3198
DOI:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78168-X