The type of lipid supplement has crucial implications for forage particle size in calf starter diets.

Background: Forage inclusion in starters of young dairy calves has become an acceptable strategy in the last decade. To compensate for the lower energy provided by forage, concurrent lipid supplementation can be proposed. However, ruminal microbial activity and forage digestibility may be decreased by lipid supplementation.

Milk feeding level and starter protein content: Effects on growth performance, blood metabolites, and urinary purine derivatives of Holstein dairy calves.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of milk allowances equal to 526 g/d as moderate (MOD) versus 790 g/d of milk dry matter as high (HI), and starter diets containing 18% or 23% crude protein (CP), on growth performance, blood metabolites, and purine derivative (PD) excretion in the urine of dairy calves. A total of 52 female Holstein dairy calves (40.8 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to the experimental diets.

Effects of replacing steam-flaked corn with shredded sugar beet pulp on feed sorting, behavior, blood metabolites, and growth performance of dairy calves.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of partial replacement of steam-flaked corn (SFC) with shredded sugar beet pulp (SBP) in the starter diet on selective intake (sorting), feeding and chewing behavior, blood biochemical parameters, and growth in newborn female Holstein dairy calves. A total of 48 calves (3 d old; 40.1 ± 0.

Essential oils improved weight gain, growth and feed efficiency of young dairy calves fed 18 or 20% crude protein starter diets.

The objective was to evaluate interactions between starter protein (180 vs. 200 g/kg, DM basis) and a mixture of essential oils (EOs; containing thymol, eugenol, vanillin, limonene and guaiacol) on growth, metabolic and ruminal functions of Holstein dairy calves. In a completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design, 48 calves, 3 days old (averaging BW 42.

Relationships between the ovarian status and superovulatory responses in dairy cattle.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of follicular profiles over 4 days prior to superovulation on superovulatory responses. Eighty-eight Holstein cows were synchronized by two prostaglandin F(2)α injections given 11 days apart and conventionally superovulated between days 8 and 12 of the estrous cycle with 400 mg Folltropin-V given in decreasing doses over 4 days. Luteolysis was induced by 2 im injections of cloprostenol (2 ml) with the sixth and seventh injections of Folltropin-V.