Castro Í R R, Leite G B C, Carrari I F, Silva L N C, Chagas J C C, More D D, Marcondes M I
Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n - Campus Universitário, Viçosa - MG, 36570-900, Brazil; Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Animal. 2025 Feb;19(2):101400. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101400. Epub 2024 Dec 16.
Available literature on the effect of various physical forms of starter feed (PFSF) on calf performance is conflicting. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the PFSF on feed intake, growth performance, blood metabolites, and the health of dairy calves. Twenty-four female Holstein calves (5-d-old; 40.4 ± 3.86 kg BW; mean ± SD) were used in a completely randomized block design. Calves were individually housed and randomly assigned to the treatments (n = 12 calves/treatment): (1) textured starter feed (TSF, a mix of pelleted ingredients and whole-kernel corn) and (2) pelleted starter feed (PSF). Both starter feeds had the same ingredients, nutrient compositions and pellet die size. Calves were fed the same milk replacer and weaned in a step-down scheme at 67 d. Health was evaluated daily until weaning. Treatments did not affect starter feed intake, water intake, BW, ADG, withers height, or clinical signs of disease (loss of appetite, ear position, and cough incidence). Nonetheless, scores for abnormal attitude (P = 0.01), ocular discharge (P < 0.01), total respiratory disease (P = 0.02), and fecal consistency (P = 0.04) of PSF-fed calves were higher than those TSF-fed. Based on that, TSF-fed calves exhibited a higher non-disease probability compared to PSF over time. Calves TSF-fed sorted against small particles (0.425-mm sieve; P = 0.01). Coincidently, PSF-fed animals sorted for small particles in the same sieve sizes. No major changes in blood profile were found (P > 0.05). In conclusion, starter feeds containing whole-kernel corn as a texturizer did not improve the intake and performance of dairy calves compared with pelleted starter feed; however, improvements were observed in health scores and non-disease probability of calves fed textured starter feed.
关于不同物理形态的犊牛开食料（PFSF）对犊牛生长性能影响的现有文献存在矛盾。因此，本研究旨在调查PFSF对犊牛采食量、生长性能、血液代谢物以及健康状况的影响。选用24头荷斯坦雌性犊牛（5日龄；体重40.4±3.86千克；平均值±标准差），采用完全随机区组设计。犊牛单独饲养，并随机分配到各处理组（每组n = 12头犊牛）：（1）颗粒状开食料（TSF，由颗粒成分和整粒玉米混合而成）和（2）粉状开食料（PSF）。两种开食料的成分、营养组成和制粒模孔尺寸相同。犊牛饲喂相同的代乳粉，并在67日龄时采用逐步减量法断奶。在断奶前每天评估健康状况。各处理组对犊牛的开食料采食量、饮水量、体重、平均日增重、体高或疾病临床症状（食欲减退、耳朵位置和咳嗽发生率）没有影响。尽管如此，饲喂PSF的犊牛在异常姿势评分（P = 0.01）、眼分泌物评分（P < 0.01）、总呼吸道疾病评分（P = 0.02）和粪便稠度评分（P = 0.04）方面均高于饲喂TSF的犊牛。基于此，随着时间的推移，与PSF相比，饲喂TSF的犊牛表现出更高的无病概率。饲喂TSF的犊牛会筛选出小颗粒（0.425毫米筛网；P = 0.01）。巧合的是，饲喂PSF的动物也会筛选出相同筛网尺寸的小颗粒。血液指标未发现重大变化（P > 0.05）。总之，与粉状开食料相比，含有整粒玉米作为调质剂的开食料并未提高犊牛的采食量和生长性能；然而，饲喂颗粒状开食料的犊牛在健康评分和无病概率方面有所改善。
