RESUMO
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.
RESUMO
An experimental work was conducted to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells and its culture on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk composition, body condition score, selected blood metabolites, feed conversion efficiency (FCE), nutrient digestibility, body weight gain, and economics of milk production in lactating multiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes. In total, 20 buffaloes of age 5 years ± 6 months and weighing 550 ± 20 kg were selected and assigned to four dietary treatments (n=5 buffalo/treatment) under completely randomized design. The dietary treatments include treatment 1 (T1) control, treatment 2 (T2) 5g/head live yeast, treatment 3 (T3) 5g/head yeast culture, and treatment 4 (T4) 10 g/head yeast culture per day for 60 days excluding 14 days as an adjustment period. The results indicated that T4 showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in DMI, milk yield and components, blood glucose level, digestibility of nutrients, and body weight gain while significant decrease in blood urea nitrogen as compared to other treatment groups. Body condition score was not affected among treatments. In conclusion, yeast culture supplementation significantly improved (p <0.05) milk yield, milk composition, DMI, body weight gain, blood glucose level, and digestibility while significantly decreased blood urea level as compare to control. Economic return was also improved. BCS was not improved. Comparatively, yeast culture showed significant improvement in growth and productive performance as compare to live yeast. Meanwhile, 10-g yeast culture showed better results as compare to 5-g yeast culture.
