Effect of porcine plasma on growth and health of Holstein calves.

The objective of this trial was to compare the health and performance of calves provided high feeding rates of a whey-based all-milk-protein calf milk replacer (MR) with those fed an MR containing either 5% or 10% porcine plasma, which replaced, respectively, either 15% or 30% of the whey-based proteins in the MR formula. A total of 320 male Holstein calves weighing a mean (± SD) of 47.8 ± 4.1 kg were sourced from local dairy farms, auction facilities, and local order buyers. Calves arrived at the research facility in 4 batches of 80 animals each and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) MR composed of whey-based milk proteins (control group); (2) whey replacement of 5% spray-dried porcine plasma (replacing 15% of protein); or (3) whey replacement of 10% spray-dried porcine plasma (replacing 30% of protein). Calves were housed in individual pens for the first 56 d of the experiment and offered, twice daily, a 26% crude protein (CP), 20% fat MR standardized using synthetic amino acids to 2.4% lysine, 0.8% methionine, and 1.6% threonine. Amounts of MR offered from wk 1 to 8 were 0.65, 0.78, 0.91, 1.04, 1.04, 0.78, 0.52, and 0.325 kg/d, respectively. Calves were also offered a 20% CP texturized calf starter from d 0 to 56 and then transitioned over 7 d (d 56-62) of a 50% calf starter and 50% corn and pellet ration with 2% straw to a corn and pellet ration with 2% straw (18.1% CP) for the remainder of the experiment (d 63-77). Calves were individually weighed upon arrival, weekly through d 56, and at d 77. Grain was fed ad libitum, and remaining grain was weighed weekly to determine weekly consumption. Remaining grain was discarded and was replaced with fresh grain that was weighed and recorded. All milk was offered individually via bucket twice daily, and refusals were recorded following milk feeding by weighing back the remaining unconsumed milk solution. Calves were health scored twice daily, and any medical treatments or mortality were recorded. Time to mortality and medical treatments were analyzed using survival analysis, health scoring data were analyzed using a generalized linear model, and growth was evaluated using a mixed repeated-measures linear regression model. No differences in mortality or incidence of diarrhea were noted between groups. Although there was a high incidence of respiratory disease (65%), no differences were found between groups. Over the entire experimental period, calves gained 67.0 ± 14.9 kg; however, no differences in growth among groups were noted, with the exception that, on d 77, BW was greater for calves in the control group (115.8 ± 15.5 kg) compared with those fed a MR with 5% porcine plasma (113.4 ± 17.8 kg). No differences were found between groups with respect to feed conversion. In this study, an MR composed of either 5% or 10% spray-dried porcine plasma performed comparably to a whey protein-based MR.

Short communication: Effects of different blood buffers administered in electrolyte solution to grain-fed veal calves experiencing diarrhea.

Calf diarrhea can commonly lead to dehydration and metabolic acidosis due to the loss of fluid and electrolytes. The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to examine differences between treating male dairy calves experiencing diarrhea with either a basic bicarbonate electrolyte powder (BBP) composed of sodium bicarbonate (50.7 mmol/L); a mixed buffer powder (MBP) including sodium bicarbonate (33.8 mmol/L), sodium citrate (8.4 mmol/L), sodium acetate (6.3 mmol/L), and potassium citrate (1.9 mmol/L); or a liquid electrolyte (HAL) composed of sodium acetate (50.1 mmol/L). All 3 electrolyte solutions were standardized to provide 50 mmol/L blood buffers and a similarly strong ion difference (74.4, 74.9, and 82.6 mEq/L for BBP, MBP, and HAL, respectively). Holstein male calves (n = 80) were sourced from auction barns or local farms and delivered in 1 batch to the research facility. Calves were housed in individual pens and fed a 24% crude protein and 17% fat calf milk replacer (CMR) twice daily. Starter grain and water were offered ad libitum. Calves were randomly enrolled in 1 of the 3 treatments when experiencing either 2 consecutive days of a fecal score of 2 (runny, spreads easily) or 1 d with a fecal score of 3 (liquid devoid of solid material). Calves were blocked by the different enrollment criteria. The respective electrolyte solution was administered via esophageal tube 1 h after feeding CMR until the fecal score returned to 0 (normal consistency) or 1 (semiformed or pasty). Blood gas measurements were taken at 1, 8, and 24 h post the initial electrolyte feeding, and weight was measured at 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 d postenrollment. Mixed repeated measure linear regression models were built to assess the effect that the electrolyte solutions had on the blood gas measurements and body weight. A total of 45 calves were enrolled in the trial with 14, 16, and 15 calves randomly assigned to the MBP, HAL, and BBP groups, respectively. As compared with BBP, MBP increased blood CO2 at 8 and 24 h, increased bicarbonate at 24 h, increased base excess at 8 and 24 h, and increased anion gap at 24 h. Calves in the BBP and HAL groups noted more severe eye recession when compared with the MBP group. Average daily gain did not differ between treatments at any time point. Although a severe dehydration challenge was not present, which should be considered a limitation of the study, MBP improved the acid-base status of calves compared with BBP, whereas HAL performed similarly to MBP.

Short communication: Effects of porcine plasma or combined sodium butyrate and Bacillus subtilis on growth and health of grain-fed veal calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating 2 commonly used additives or spray-dried porcine plasma in calf milk replacer (CMR) on calf performance and health. Male Holstein calves (n = 158) transported from auction barns and local dairy farms were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 decoquinate-containing CMR for the first 49 d of the experiment: all milk protein and no additives (CONT); 15% of crude protein (CP) replaced with spray-dried porcine plasma, no additives (PLM); or all milk protein and an added combination of sodium butyrate (rate 1.4 kg of butyric acid/Mt) and Bacillus subtilis (1.28 million cfu/g of feed; BB). All milk replacers were formulated to contain 26% CP and 17% fat, 2.4% Lys, and 0.8% Met, and were bucket-fed at daily feeding rates of 520 g during wk 1 and 2, 650 g during wk 3, and 900 g during wk 4 and 5, in a total of 4, 5, and 6 L of solution, respectively. Calves were offered texturized calf starter (18% CP) upon arrival until wk 3 and transitioned to a corn and pellet ration with 2% straw (18.1% CP). No prophylactic administration of antibiotics occurred. All calves were gradually weaned over a 2-wk period. Calves were individually housed until weaned and then housed in groups of 5 in a mechanically ventilated facility in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Fecal scores, treatments administered (antibiotic or supportive therapy), and mortalities were recorded daily. Body weight was measured using a digital scale at arrival and at 14, 49, 56, and 78 d after arrival. No differences were found among the groups with respect to growth, feed efficiency, or incidence of diarrhea or respiratory infection treatment. Calves supplemented with BB had a greater hazard of mortality over the growing period compared with CONT. An interaction was found between the BB group and the level of total serum protein, with the BB group having a lower proportion of days with a fecal score of 3 when the calves had a higher total serum protein level. Calves fed PLM had a lower proportion of d with a fecal score of 3 relative to CONT but no difference in the proportion of d with a fecal score of 2 or higher. This study found that the addition of spray-dried plasma in CMR reduced diarrhea severity; however, supplementing BB was associated with a higher hazard of calf mortality and had a varying response on fecal score.