Animal Science Abstract
Calves sucking colostrum and milk from their dams or from an automatic feeding station starting in the neonatal period: metabolic and endocrine traits and growth performance
G. Schiessler1, A. Nussbaum1, H. M. Hammon1 and J. W. Blum1,A
ACorresponding author e-mail: blum@itz.unibe.ch
1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Berne, CH-3012 Berne, SwitzerlandAbstract
Metabolic and endocrine traits and growth performance from birth up to day 28 in calves sucking colostrum and milk at a computer-programmed automatic feeding station (GrA, no. = 7) were compared with calves sucking their dams (GrS, no. = 7). Body weight tended to be higher on day 28 in GrS than in GrA (74 (s.e. 4) and 70 (s.e. 2) kg, respectively; P < 0•1), but not weight gain from 0 to 28 days. Intakes in GrA increased from days 1 to 4 and then remained at 11•1 (s.e. 1•0) l/day. From days 2 to 11 calves visited the automatic feeding station 9 (s.e. 1) times per day. Plasma concentrations of urea (days 3 and 21), glucagon (day 3) and growth hormone (day 3) were higher in GrA than in GrS (P < 0•05), whereas plasma concentrations of total protein (days 1 to 28), immunoglobulin G (days 1 to 28), albumin (days 1 to 14), glucose (day 3), lactate (days 1 and 28), triglycerides (day 3), cholesterol (days 21 and 28), insulin (day 3), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (day 21) were lower in GrA than in GrS (P < 0•05). Metabolic and endocrine group differences were mainly seen in week 1. However, growth performance during the first 3 weeks of life was comparable in calves of the two groups but resulted in slightly enhanced body weight (by 4 ± 3•5 kg) at the end of the 1st month of life in GrS.
Keywords: automatic feed dispenser, calves, colostrum, hormones, metabolites
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