Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves
Objective The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of once-a-day milk feeding on growth performance and routine behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Methods At 22nd day of age, twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 12/treatment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Animal Bioscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0073.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797324460906250240 |
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| author | Syed Husnain Mushtaq Danish Hussain Hifz-ul-Rahman Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque Nisar Ahmad Ahmad Azeem Sardar Ghazanfar Ali Chishti |
| author_facet | Syed Husnain Mushtaq Danish Hussain Hifz-ul-Rahman Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque Nisar Ahmad Ahmad Azeem Sardar Ghazanfar Ali Chishti |
| author_sort | Syed Husnain Mushtaq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of once-a-day milk feeding on growth performance and routine behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Methods At 22nd day of age, twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 12/treatment) based on milk feeding frequency (MF): i) 3 L of milk feeding two times a day; ii) 6 L of milk feeding once a day. The milk feeding amount was reduced to half for all calves between 56 and 60 days of age and weaning was done at 60 days of age. To determine the increase in weight and structural measurements, each calf was weighed and measured at 3 weeks of age and then at weaning. The daily behavioral activity of each calf was assessed from the 22nd day of age till weaning (60th day of age) through Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek (NEDAP) software providing real-time data through a logger fitted on the calf’s foot. Results There was no interaction (p≥0.17) between MF and sex of the calves for routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. Similarly, there was no effect of MF on routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. However, the sex of the calves affected body weight gain in calves. Male calves had 27% greater total body weight and average daily gain than female calves. There was no effect of the sex of the calves on behavioral measurements. Collectively, in the current study, no negative effects of a once-a-day milk feeding regimen were found on routine behavioral and growth parameters of preweaning calves in group housing. Conclusion Once-a-day milk feeding can be safely adopted in preweaning calves from 22nd day of age. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:56:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-365af3e34e2442bc88ed488a8baa31d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2765-0189 2765-0235 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:56:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-365af3e34e2442bc88ed488a8baa31d72024-02-05T00:49:44ZengAsian-Australasian Association of Animal Production SocietiesAnimal Bioscience2765-01892765-02352024-02-0137225326010.5713/ab.23.007325094Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calvesSyed Husnain Mushtaq0Danish Hussain1Hifz-ul-Rahman2Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque3Nisar Ahmad4Ahmad Azeem Sardar5Ghazanfar Ali Chishti6 Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, Pakistan Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki 55300, PakistanObjective The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of once-a-day milk feeding on growth performance and routine behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Methods At 22nd day of age, twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 12/treatment) based on milk feeding frequency (MF): i) 3 L of milk feeding two times a day; ii) 6 L of milk feeding once a day. The milk feeding amount was reduced to half for all calves between 56 and 60 days of age and weaning was done at 60 days of age. To determine the increase in weight and structural measurements, each calf was weighed and measured at 3 weeks of age and then at weaning. The daily behavioral activity of each calf was assessed from the 22nd day of age till weaning (60th day of age) through Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek (NEDAP) software providing real-time data through a logger fitted on the calf’s foot. Results There was no interaction (p≥0.17) between MF and sex of the calves for routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. Similarly, there was no effect of MF on routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. However, the sex of the calves affected body weight gain in calves. Male calves had 27% greater total body weight and average daily gain than female calves. There was no effect of the sex of the calves on behavioral measurements. Collectively, in the current study, no negative effects of a once-a-day milk feeding regimen were found on routine behavioral and growth parameters of preweaning calves in group housing. Conclusion Once-a-day milk feeding can be safely adopted in preweaning calves from 22nd day of age.http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0073.pdfbehaviorcalvesgrowthmilk feeding frequency |
| spellingShingle | Syed Husnain Mushtaq Danish Hussain Hifz-ul-Rahman Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque Nisar Ahmad Ahmad Azeem Sardar Ghazanfar Ali Chishti Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves Animal Bioscience behavior calves growth milk feeding frequency |
| title | Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves |
| title_full | Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves |
| title_fullStr | Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves |
| title_short | Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves |
| title_sort | effect of once a day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre weaning calves |
| topic | behavior calves growth milk feeding frequency |
| url | http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0073.pdf |
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