Does the use of corn and soybean hulls affect calf performance in the preweaning period?

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two levels of soybean hulls (0 and 400.1 g/kg) and whole or ground corn in the diet of newborn crossbred dairy male calves on intake, performance, blood indicators, and feeding cost. Twenty-eight calves with an average weight of 33.0±6.2 kg and four days of age were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design (n = 7) for 56 days. Weekly samples of feed, diets, and leftovers were collected to determine dry matter and nutrient intakes. To evaluate apparent digestibility, samples were taken using titanium dioxide as a maker. Blood samples were also collected to evaluate blood indicators. The inclusion of soybean hulls resulted in greater neutral detergent fiber intake by the calves, but reduced their non-fibrous carbohydrates intake, which was also reduced by the use of whole corn in the diet. Although the total digestible nutrients content of diets decreased with the use of whole corn and inclusion of soybean hulls, its intake did not vary (0.75 kg/d), regardless of the factors analyzed. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter (0.87 kg/kg) and crude protein (0.89 kg/kg) were similar, resulting in similar performance between the animals, regardless of the factors analyzed. In the quantities evaluated, the use of soybean hulls or whole corn did not affect blood indicators and was insufficient to reduce feed costs; the cost of daily feed was $2.06, while the cost per kilogram of gain was $3.74. The inclusion of up to 400.1 g/kg of soybean hulls or the replacement of ground corn with whole corn does not affect the performance of crossbred dairy calves during the preweaning period, demonstrating that both can be used in animal feed during this phase of production.(AU)

Brazilian Citizens: Expectations Regarding Dairy Cattle Welfare and Awareness of Contentious Practices.

The primary aim of this study was to explore attitudes of urban Brazilian citizens about dairy production. A secondary aim was to determine their knowledge and attitudes about four potentially contentious routine dairy cattle management practices: early cow-calf separation; zero-grazing; culling of newborn male calves; and dehorning without pain mitigation. To address the first aim 40 participants were interviewed using open-ended semi-structured questions designed to probe their views and attitudes about dairy production in Brazil, and 300 participants answered a questionnaire that included an open-ended question about the welfare of dairy cattle. Primary concerns reported by the participants centered on milk quality, which included the rejection of any chemical additives, but also animal welfare, environmental and social issues. The interviewees rarely mentioned animal welfare directly but, when probed, expressed several concerns related to this topic. In particular, participants commented on factors that they perceived to influence milk quality, such as good animal health, feeding, clean facilities, and the need to avoid or reduce the use of drugs, hormones and pesticides, the avoidance of pain, frustration and suffering, and the ability of the animals to perform natural behaviors. To address our second aim, participants were asked questions about the four routine management practices. Although they self-reported being largely unaware of these practices, the majority of the participants rejected these practices outright. These data provide insight that animal welfare may be an important issue for members of the public. Failure to consider this information may increase the risk that certain dairy production practices may not be socially sustainable once lay citizens become aware of them.

USO DE SUCEDÂNEO EM SUBSTITUIÇÃO AO LEITE NO DESEMPENHO DE BEZERROS DA RAÇA HOLANDESA DURANTE A CRIA E RECRIA

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological efficiency of the milk replacer in the substitution of whole milk for calves at the first months of age and at rearing fase. This study was conducted in Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Dois Vizinhos, from May 2011 to April 2012. This research was carried out on 32 animals, assigned in a completely randomized design with four treatments (100% whole milk, 34% milk replacer + 66% whole milk, 66% milk replacer + 34% whole milk and 100% milk replacer) and eight replications.The data were analyzed by analysis of variance and regression at 5% of significance. Regarding the morphometric measurements, only the gain of chest circumference presented significant difference. The use of milk replacer in the substitution of whole milk during pre-weaning phase showed negative linear response for levels 100%, 66%, 34% milk replacer, nevertheless during the post-weaning phase there was a compensatory gain for the animals fed with 34% and 66 % milk replacer. The use of 100% milk replacer for Holstein calves at pre-weaning phase was not efficient during lactation, althoug, during post-weaning phase, partial replacement of milk by milk replacer (66% + 34% milk replacer) was an efficient option because there was a favorable compensatory growth.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência biológica do sucedâneo em substituição ao leite, na fase de cria e recria de bezerros da raça Holandesa. O trabalho foi realizado na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos, entre maio de 2011 e abril de 2012. A pesquisa foi realizada com 32 animais, adotando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições: 100% leite; 34% sucedâneo + 66% leite; 66% sucedâneo + 34% leite; e 100% sucedâneo. Os dados foram submetidos à analise de variância e de regressão a 5% de significância. Dentre as medidas morfométricas realizadas, apenas o ganho de perímetro torácico apresentou diferença significativa. A utilização de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite durante a fase de aleitamento apresentou uma resposta linear negativa para os níveis 100%, 66%, 34% sucedâneo, porém durante a fase de recria ocorreu um ganho compensatório dos animais submetidos aos tratamentos 34% e 66% sucedâneo. A utilização de 100% de sucedâneo na alimentação de bezerros holandeses na fase de cria não foi eficiente durante o aleitamento. Durante a fase de recria, a substituição parcial do leite por sucedâneo (66% sucedâneo + 34% leite) mostrou ser a opção mais eficiente, pois apresentou um ganho compensatório favorável.

Uso de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite no desempenho de bezerros da raça holandesa durante a cria e recria / Milk replacer use in substitution of whole milk on the performace of Holstein calves during growing phase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological efficiency of the milk replacer in thesubstitution of whole milk for calves at the first months of age and at rearing fase. This study wasconducted in Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Dois Vizinhos, fromMay 2011 to April 2012. This research was carried out on 32 animals, assigned in a completelyrandomized design with four treatments (100% whole milk, 34% milk replacer + 66% whole milk,66% milk replacer + 34% whole milk and 100% milk replacer) and eight replications.The data wereanalyzed by analysis of variance and regression at 5% of significance. Regarding the morphometricmeasurements, only the gain of chest circumference presented significant difference. The use of milkreplacer in the substitution of whole milk during pre-weaning phase showed negative linear responsefor levels 100%, 66%, 34% milk replacer, nevertheless during the post-weaning phase there wasa compensatory gain for the animals fed with 34% and 66 % milk replacer. The use of 100% milk replacer for Holstein calves at pre-weaning phase was not efficient during lactation, althoug, duringpost-weaning phase, partial replacement of milk by milk replacer (66% + 34% milk replacer) was anefficient option because there was a favorable compensatory growth.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência biológica do sucedâneo em substituição ao leite,na fase de cria e recria de bezerros da raça Holandesa. O trabalho foi realizado na UniversidadeTecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos, entre maio de 2011 e abril de 2012. Apesquisa foi realizada com 32 animais, adotando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado comquatro tratamentos e oito repetições: 100% leite; 34% sucedâneo + 66% leite; 66% sucedâneo + 34%leite; e 100% sucedâneo. Os dados foram submetidos à analise de variância e de regressão a 5% designificância. Dentre as medidas morfométricas realizadas, apenas o ganho de perímetro torácicoapresentou diferença significativa. A utilização de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite durante a fase dealeitamento apresentou uma resposta linear negativa para os níveis 100%, 66%, 34% sucedâneo, porémdurante a fase de recria ocorreu um ganho compensatório dos animais submetidos aos tratamentos34% e 66% sucedâneo. A utilização de 100% de sucedâneo na alimentação de bezerros holandeses nafase de cria não foi eficiente durante o aleitamento. Durante a fase de recria, a substituição parcial doleite por sucedâneo (66% sucedâneo + 34% leite) mostrou ser a opção mais eficiente, pois apresentouum ganho compensatório favorável.(AU)

Uso de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite no desempenho de bezerros da raça holandesa durante a cria e recria / Milk replacer use in substitution of whole milk on the performace of Holstein calves during growing phase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological efficiency of the milk replacer in thesubstitution of whole milk for calves at the first months of age and at rearing fase. This study wasconducted in Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Dois Vizinhos, fromMay 2011 to April 2012. This research was carried out on 32 animals, assigned in a completelyrandomized design with four treatments (100% whole milk, 34% milk replacer + 66% whole milk,66% milk replacer + 34% whole milk and 100% milk replacer) and eight replications.The data wereanalyzed by analysis of variance and regression at 5% of significance. Regarding the morphometricmeasurements, only the gain of chest circumference presented significant difference. The use of milkreplacer in the substitution of whole milk during pre-weaning phase showed negative linear responsefor levels 100%, 66%, 34% milk replacer, nevertheless during the post-weaning phase there wasa compensatory gain for the animals fed with 34% and 66 % milk replacer. The use of 100% milk replacer for Holstein calves at pre-weaning phase was not efficient during lactation, althoug, duringpost-weaning phase, partial replacement of milk by milk replacer (66% + 34% milk replacer) was anefficient option because there was a favorable compensatory growth.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência biológica do sucedâneo em substituição ao leite,na fase de cria e recria de bezerros da raça Holandesa. O trabalho foi realizado na UniversidadeTecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos, entre maio de 2011 e abril de 2012. Apesquisa foi realizada com 32 animais, adotando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado comquatro tratamentos e oito repetições: 100% leite; 34% sucedâneo + 66% leite; 66% sucedâneo + 34%leite; e 100% sucedâneo. Os dados foram submetidos à analise de variância e de regressão a 5% designificância. Dentre as medidas morfométricas realizadas, apenas o ganho de perímetro torácicoapresentou diferença significativa. A utilização de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite durante a fase dealeitamento apresentou uma resposta linear negativa para os níveis 100%, 66%, 34% sucedâneo, porémdurante a fase de recria ocorreu um ganho compensatório dos animais submetidos aos tratamentos34% e 66% sucedâneo. A utilização de 100% de sucedâneo na alimentação de bezerros holandeses nafase de cria não foi eficiente durante o aleitamento. Durante a fase de recria, a substituição parcial doleite por sucedâneo (66% sucedâneo + 34% leite) mostrou ser a opção mais eficiente, pois apresentouum ganho compensatório favorável.