Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance
The positive effects of nucleotide (NU) supplementation in milk replacer have been elucidated in infants and in dairy calves; however, NU addition to whole milk has not been evaluated previously. This study aimed to assess NU supplementation in the whole milk on calf growth and health. Thirty Holste...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/218 |
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| author | Yousef Abbaslou Davood Zahmatkesh Ehsan Mahjoubi Mehdi Hossein Yazdi Hamed Beiranvand Morteza Gorjidooz |
| author_facet | Yousef Abbaslou Davood Zahmatkesh Ehsan Mahjoubi Mehdi Hossein Yazdi Hamed Beiranvand Morteza Gorjidooz |
| author_sort | Yousef Abbaslou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The positive effects of nucleotide (NU) supplementation in milk replacer have been elucidated in infants and in dairy calves; however, NU addition to whole milk has not been evaluated previously. This study aimed to assess NU supplementation in the whole milk on calf growth and health. Thirty Holstein calves (body weight: 39.1 ± 1.0 kg; 3 d after birth) were randomly assigned to the following treatments: whole milk without any supplementation (NU0), whole milk + 0.5 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS0.5), and whole milk + 1 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS1). Calves were weaned at d 55 and stayed on study until d 75. Calves had free access to feed and water throughout the study. Dry matter intakes (DMI) were similar among treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05) during the pre-weaning period; however, increasing NU resulted in a linear (<i>p</i> < 0.05) increase in DMI during the post weaning period (2158, 2432, and 2518 g/d for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Treatments did not affect body weight (BW) at the first and second month of study, but final BW linearly increased as NU was added (87.1, 90.6, and 95.4 kg for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Neither pre-weaning average daily gain nor post-weaning average daily gain was affected by treatments; accordingly, feed efficiency was similar among treatment groups. Days with loose fecal score were linearly decreased as NU was added to whole milk during the first month of life, while the fecal score did not differ among treatments until the end of the study. No difference was observed in the skeletal growth of calves in the current study. Therefore, it can be concluded that NU supplementation in the whole milk has some beneficial effects on calf performance in terms of final BW, post-weaning DMI, and less days with loose feces. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:30:41Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-3cc8fd11752c4a6da48e78867dff7f242023-12-03T13:36:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-01-0111121810.3390/ani11010218Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf PerformanceYousef Abbaslou0Davood Zahmatkesh1Ehsan Mahjoubi2Mehdi Hossein Yazdi3Hamed Beiranvand4Morteza Gorjidooz5Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, IranDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, IranDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, IranDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156, IranSaffari-Salehi Agro-Industrial Co., Varamin, Tehran 33751-13111, IranDepartment of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, Garmsar 35816-311673581, IranThe positive effects of nucleotide (NU) supplementation in milk replacer have been elucidated in infants and in dairy calves; however, NU addition to whole milk has not been evaluated previously. This study aimed to assess NU supplementation in the whole milk on calf growth and health. Thirty Holstein calves (body weight: 39.1 ± 1.0 kg; 3 d after birth) were randomly assigned to the following treatments: whole milk without any supplementation (NU0), whole milk + 0.5 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS0.5), and whole milk + 1 g/d added a NU-containing supplement to whole milk (NUCS1). Calves were weaned at d 55 and stayed on study until d 75. Calves had free access to feed and water throughout the study. Dry matter intakes (DMI) were similar among treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05) during the pre-weaning period; however, increasing NU resulted in a linear (<i>p</i> < 0.05) increase in DMI during the post weaning period (2158, 2432, and 2518 g/d for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Treatments did not affect body weight (BW) at the first and second month of study, but final BW linearly increased as NU was added (87.1, 90.6, and 95.4 kg for NU0, NUCS0.5, and NUCS1, respectively). Neither pre-weaning average daily gain nor post-weaning average daily gain was affected by treatments; accordingly, feed efficiency was similar among treatment groups. Days with loose fecal score were linearly decreased as NU was added to whole milk during the first month of life, while the fecal score did not differ among treatments until the end of the study. No difference was observed in the skeletal growth of calves in the current study. Therefore, it can be concluded that NU supplementation in the whole milk has some beneficial effects on calf performance in terms of final BW, post-weaning DMI, and less days with loose feces.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/218calfdiarrheanucleotidewhole milk |
| spellingShingle | Yousef Abbaslou Davood Zahmatkesh Ehsan Mahjoubi Mehdi Hossein Yazdi Hamed Beiranvand Morteza Gorjidooz Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance Animals calf diarrhea nucleotide whole milk |
| title | Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance |
| title_full | Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance |
| title_fullStr | Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance |
| title_short | Nucleotide Supplementation to Whole Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Post-Weaning Holstein Calf Performance |
| title_sort | nucleotide supplementation to whole milk has beneficial effects on post weaning holstein calf performance |
| topic | calf diarrhea nucleotide whole milk |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/218 |
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