in order to compare the effects of different weaning strategies on feed intake, structural growth measurement and health, blood metabolites and economic efficiency of young dairy calves, twenty four female holstein calves were used. calves after birth were randomly assigned into one of three weaning strategy as follow: 1) weaning based on feed intake, 2) weaning based on weight gain (30 kg weig...

Megasphaera elsdenii converts lactate and glucose into butyrate, the main volatile fatty acid responsible of papillae development and may benefit calf performance. Twenty-six Holstein calves (BW = 34.5 ± 1.65 kg) were randomly assigned at birth to a control group (Meg0) and a group that received an oral dose of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 at 14 d of age (Meg14). Calves received colostrum for the fi...

BACKGROUND Among the various metabolic disturbances occurring in calves affected by neonatal diarrhea or ruminal acidosis, acidemia constitutes an important condition requiring specific therapy. Although various attempts have been made to estimate the degree of metabolic acidosis on the basis of clinical signs alone, some doubts have been raised regarding the accuracy and predictive value of th...

Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein calves (age, 12 ± 3 weeks) were used to identify the effect of a probiotic comprised of Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium butyricum on ruminal components. The calves were adapted to a diet containing a 50% high-concentrate (standard diet) for 1 week, and then, the probiotic was given once daily for 5 days (day 1-5) at 1.5 or 3.0 g...

Calf mortality is one of important problems of calf rearing in dairy farms worldwide. Besides, several noninfectious factors, such as management around birth, colostrum management, calf housing, feeding system, hygiene and pathogens, play an important role in calf rearing. The aim of the study was to show the most common causes of mortality of calves up to 90 d of their lives. Some data are ava...

There is limited information available about the relationship between dry period shortening and calves health and their performance. One-hundred twenty Holstein cows and their calves were used to evaluate dry period length on colostrum quality and calves health. Treatments were arranged in a 3×2×2 factorial design that included dry period (30-d, 42-d and 56-d), parity (primiparous or multiparou...

Holstein bull calves (n = 48) were purchased from local sale barns at 3 to 7 d of age and were assigned randomly to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of lasalocid in milk replacer (0 or 80 mg/kg) and in calf starter (3 or 44 mg/kg of dry matter). On d 10 after arrival, calves were orally dosed with 100,000 Eimeria oocysts. Intakes of calf starter and milk replacer, body weight (BW), BW gain, excret...

The objective of this study was to assess effects prior social contact on the expression personality traits in group-housed calves. Holstein heifer and bull calves were housed either individual pens (n = 16), or pairs 8 pairs) at birth before they mingled between treatments moved group approximately 2 wk life (8 calves/pen). During 4 life, tested a series standardized behavioral tests: an open ...

The pre-weaning period is critical for calf health and growth, and intensive milk feeding programs may assist postnatal development by improving body growth and organ maturation. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of ad libitum milk replacer (MR) feeding on the growth, metabolic adaptation, health, and immune status of newborn calves. Twenty-eight newborn Holstein and Holstein...