HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cowles, K. E. Articles by Erickson, P. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cowles, K. E. Articles by Erickson, P. S.

Growth Characteristics of Calves Fed an Intensified Milk Replacer Regimen with Additional Lactoferrin¹

K. E. Cowles^*, R. A. White, N. L. Whitehouse and P. S. Erickson^,2

^* Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801
Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, 98371
Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824

² Corresponding author: peter.erickson{at}unh.edu

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin addition to milk replacer varying in crude protein (CP) on dry matter intake, growth, and days medicated. Thirty-four Holstein heifer calves were assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were as follows: 562 g daily of a nonmedicated conventional milk replacer (20% CP:20% fat) feeding regimen with or without 1 g of supplemental bovine lactoferrin (n = 9 for both treatments) or a nonmedicated intensified milk replacer feeding regimen (28% CP:20% fat) fed on a metabolizable energy basis (0.2 Mcal/kg BW^0.75) from d 2 to 9, and at 0.27 Mcal/kg BW^0.75 from d 10 to 42 with or without 1g supplemental bovine lactoferrin (n = 8 for both treatments). Calves were fed pelleted starter (25% CP) in 227.5-g increments beginning on d 2 and had free access to water. Calves remained on the study for 14 d postweaning. Dry matter intake was determined daily. Growth measurements were taken weekly. Blood samples were taken twice weekly for determination of blood urea N. On d 10 of life, calves were subjected to a xylose challenge. Calves on conventional treatments ate more starter preweaning, during weaning, and postweaning. Preweaning, intensively fed calves had higher dry matter intakes. Weights of intensified-fed calves were greater at weaning. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves had greater average daily gain preweaning and overall and higher gain:feed ratios preweaning, but conventionally fed calves had higher gain:feed ratios during weaning. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves had greater hip heights during weaning and postweaning and greater heart girths preweaning, weaning, and postweaning. Days medicated were greater preweaning and overall for intensified-fed calves. There were no differences among treatments for xylose absorption. Calves on conventional treatments had increased blood urea nitrogen concentrations preweaning. There were no effects of lactoferrin on any experimental variable. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves consumed less starter but had higher average daily gains overall and larger frames and greater BW than conventionally fed calves. An intensified milk replacer feeding regimen promotes faster growth during the preweaning period when compared with calves fed conventional treatments, but supplemental bovine lactoferrin was not beneficial under these experimental conditions.

Key Words: milk replacer • lactoferrin • calf

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M. Hill, H. G. Bateman II, J. M. Aldrich, and R. L. Schlotterbeck Effect of Weaning Age of Dairy Calves Fed a Conventional or More Optimum Milk Replacer Program Professional Animal Scientist, October 1, 2009; 25(5): 619 - 624. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. C. Shea, N. L. Whitehouse, and P. S. Erickson Effects of colostrum replacer supplemented with lactoferrin on the blood plasma immunoglobulin G concentration and intestinal absorption of xylose in the neonatal calf J Anim Sci, June 1, 2009; 87(6): 2047 - 2054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Lee, M. A. Khan, W. S. Lee, S. H Yang, S. B. Kim, K. S. Ki, H. S. Kim, J. K. Ha, and Y. J. Choi Influence of equalizing the gross composition of milk replacer to that of whole milk on the performance of Holstein calves J Anim Sci, March 1, 2009; 87(3): 1129 - 1137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Raeth-Knight, H. Chester-Jones, S. Hayes, J. Linn, R. Larson, D. Ziegler, B. Ziegler, and N. Broadwater Impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer programs on Holstein heifer performance through six months of age and during first lactation J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2009; 92(2): 799 - 809. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Takagi, T. Yonezawa, S. Haga, H. Shingu, Y. Kobayashi, T. Takahashi, Y. Ohtani, Y. Obara, and K. Katoh Changes of activity and mRNA expression of urea cycle enzymes in the liver of developing Holstein calves J Anim Sci, July 1, 2008; 86(7): 1526 - 1532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. English, B. A. Hopkins, J. S. Stroud, S. Davidson, G. Smith, C. Brownie, and L. W. Whitlow Lactoferrin Supplementation to Holstein Calves During the Preweaning and Postweaning Phases J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2007; 90(11): 5276 - 5281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Quigley, T. A. Wolfe, and T. H. Elsasser Letter to the Editor: A Response to the Comments of Borderas et al. (2007) J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2007; 90(8): 3569 - 3571. [Full Text] [PDF]