The effect of early weaning on feedlot performance and measures of stress in beef calves

Forty crossbred steers (Brahman x English) were categorized into two groups: 1) early weaned (EW; n = 20); and 2) normal weaned (NW; n = 20). Calves were 89 and 300 d of age at the time of EW and NW, respectively; SEM = 4.4. Early-weaned calves were kept on-site (University of Florida, Ona), provided supplement (1% of BW), and grazed on annual and perennial pastures until NW. At the time of normal weaning, all calves were loaded on a commercial livestock trailer and transported to the North Carolina State University Research Feedlot in Butner (approximately 1,200 km). Upon arrival, calves were stratified by BW and randomly allotted to four pens per weaning age treatment. Individual calf BW and blood samples were collected at the time of normal weaning, on arrival at the feedlot (d 1; 24 h following weaning), and on d 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the receiving period. Individual BW was collected at the start and end of the growing and finishing periods, and feed intake by pen was measured daily. As an estimate of stress during the receiving period, plasma was collected and analyzed for the acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. Early-weaned calves were lighter (P = 0.03) at normal weaning than NW calves (221 vs. 269 kg; SEM = 10.6). By d 28, EW calves tended (P = 0.12) to be lighter than NW calves (242 vs. 282 kg, respectively). Gain:feed was improved for EW compared with NW calves during both the receiving (G:F = 0.157 vs. 0.081) and growing (0.159 vs. 0.136) periods. There tended (P < 0.10) to be weaning age x day interactions for each acute-phase protein. Ceruloplasmin concentrations increased in NW, but not EW calves, and peaked on d 7 (27.6 and 34.2 mg/100 mL for EW and NW calves, respectively; P < 0.05). Haptoglobin concentrations increased in both groups and were greatest (P < 0.05) in NW calves on d 3 (7.63 vs. 14.86 mg of haptoglobin/hemoglobin complexing/100 mL). No differences in ADG or G:F were detected during the finishing phase; however, overall G:F was improved (P = 0.03) for EW vs. NW calves (0.155 vs. 0.136). Carcass measures, including backfat thickness, USDA yield grade, marbling score, and LM area, did not differ between treatments. These data imply that EW calves, which are maintained onsite before shipping, may be more tolerant to the stressors associated with transportation and feed yard entry. Early weaned calves, managed within the system described in this study, may have improved G:F.     

Effects of cow parity on voluntary hay intake and performance responses to early weaning of beef calves

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of early calf weaning from both primiparous and multiparous beef cows on hay intake and measures of performance. Over two consecutive years, 96 Brahman × British cows (48 cows/year) and their calves were stratified by parity and calving date and randomly assigned to one of two weaning treatments (n = 24 cows/weaning treatment; 12 primiparous and 12 multiparous). Weaning treatments consisted of normal-weaned (calf remaining with cow throughout the study) or early weaned (calves removed from cow at 86 ± 5 days of age). An estrus synchronization and fixed-timed artificial insemination protocol (CO-Synch + CIDR) was applied to all cows at 21 days after early weaning. Following fixed-timed artificial insemination, cows were put onto bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (3 pastures/treatment; 4 cows/pasture) for a 60-day period to evaluate voluntary hay intake. During this time, cows were provided free-choice access to grass hay (‘Florona’ stargrass; Cynodon nlemfuensis) and 2.3 kg per head daily of a urea-fortified molasses supplement. Hay intake was determined by subtracting the dried weight of residual hay from the amount offered over the 60-day evaluation period. Cow body weight and body condition score were measured on day 0 and 60. Immediately following the hay intake determination period, all cows were grouped by weaning treatment and exposed to mature Angus bulls for 21 days. Pregnancy determination to artificial insemination and natural service was determined by transrectal utrasonography on two occasions conducted 60 days after artificial insemination and again 40 days after bull removal. Multiparous cows had greater hay dry matter intake (P < 0.001), body weight (P < 0.001), and body condition score (P < 0.001) than primiparous cows throughout the study. Overall, early weaning resulted in greater than a 16% decrease (P < 0.01) in hay dry matter intake, irrespective of parity. Early-weaned cows had greater (P < 0.01) body weight and body condition score than normal-weaned cows on day 60, but not day 0. Pregnancy rate to artificial insemination was greater (P < 0.01) for multiparous compared to primiparous cows. There was a weaning treatment × parity interaction for overall pregnancy rate, whereas early-weaned primiparous, but not multiparous, cows had a greater (P < 0.05) overall pregnancy rate compared to their normal-weaned contemporaries. These data imply that early calf weaning (90 days of age) will increase body weight and body condition in both multiparous and primiparous cows; however, early-weaning provides a greater advantage to overall pregnancy rate when applied to primiparous versus multiparous cows.     

Effect of rate and time of gain after weaning on the development of replacement beef heifers

Three experiments were conducted during three consecutive years to compare rate and time of gain of weaned heifer calves on growth, reproductive development and future calf production. Three groups of Angus X Hereford heifers were fed in one of the following regimens from 45 d after weaning until breeding: (1) no gain the first one-half of the development period followed by .91 kg x head-1 x d-1 gain the last one-half; (2) .45 kg x head-1 x d-1 gain the entire trial and (3) .91 kg x head-1 x d-1 the first one-half of the development period and no gain the last one-half. The same diet was fed to all heifers, but the intake was varied to meet weight gain requirements. Wither height and heart girth increased (P less than .05) during the periods the heifers were fed to gain weight. By the end of the feeding trials, there were not differences (P greater than .05) in any of the growth measures. There were no differences (P greater than .05) in age at puberty, conception rate or calf production the following year. Adequate growth and development of replacement heifers is necessary, but much latitude exists in the rate and time of growth between weaning and breeding.     

Effect of early weaning on performance, carcass and meat quality of spring-born bull calves raised in dry mountain areas

Sixteen bull calves were born in the Spanish Central Pyrenees in spring. They were either early (EW, 90 days of age) or normal weaned (NW, 180 days of age). At day 90, EW calves were placed on an intensive diet while NW calves were turned out with their dams to high mountain pastures. After summer, at day 180, NW calves were weaned and placed with EW calves on a common finishing diet until slaughter at the fixed age of 1 year. From birth to early weaning date, no performance differences appeared. However, EW calves gained faster (1.549 kg/day) than their unweaned counterparts (0.783 kg/day) from early to normal weaning date (P < 0.001). During the finishing period, NW calves showed compensatory growth, with a 44% higher ADG than EW calves (P < 0.001), with a similar feed intake and a better feed conversion ratio. Early weaned calves had a longer fattening phase than NW calves (264 vs. 158 days, respectively; P < 0.001) and thus total feed intake and feed costs were greater. When slaughtered at 1 year of age, EW and NW calves attained similar weight (489 vs. 510 kg, respectively; P > 0.05), but dressing percentage was higher for EW calves (56.9%) than for NW calves (55.2%) (P < 0.01), which led EW calves to have heavier carcasses, without differences in fat score or conformation. The different growth paths, the result of weaning management, did not affect meat tenderness, chemical composition and fatty acid profile, but affected meat lightness, with higher values for compensating calves (NW) than calves in continuous growth (EW). In conclusion, advancing weaning age modified calf performance without affecting substantially carcass characteristics, except for an improvement in dressing percentage, or meat quality.     

The effects of degradable and undegradable intake protein on the performance of lactating first-calf heifers

Two 60-d experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing degradable (DIP) and(or) undegradable (UIP) intake protein on the performance of lactating first-calf heifers. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements for either DIP, metabolizable protein (MP), or both when diets contained low-quality grass hay and an efficiency of microbial protein synthesis estimate of 10%. In Exp. 1, 32 individually fed first-calf heifers (avg 395 kg) were allotted to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (main effects of DIP, MP, and DIP x MP interaction) 1 d after calving. Cows consumed a basal diet of chopped crested wheat grass hay (4.3% CP, 67% DIP) ad libitum. Supplemental DIP and UIP were supplied by varying the ratios of soybean meal (75% DIP) and a heat-treated, protected soybean meal (70% UIP). Cow weight gain was better (P < 0.01) when adequate DIP was supplied than when DIP was deficient. However, calf weight gain was not increased by supplementing the cow with DIP. Supplemental UIP did not (P > 0.40) improve cow or calf weight gain. Blood urea N levels were higher (P < 0.01) for cows receiving supplemental DIP and UIP. However, milk production estimates were similar among treatments, as were digestibilities of OM and ADF. Nitrogen digestibility was greater when supplemental DIP was fed, but providing additional UIP did not (P = 0.15) change N digestibilities. Experiment 2 evaluated similar supplements using the same experimental design to determine changes in cow and calf weight gain, body condition score, and pregnancy rate. Seventy-two first-calf heifers (avg 441 kg) were allotted to supplement treatments 1 d after calving and were fed grass hay (5% CP, 53% DIP, 10% microbial efficiency) for ad libitum consumption for 60 d. Supplements were individually fed three times/week. Varying the ratios of soybean meal, heat-treated soybean meal, and corn gluten meal provided additional DIP and UIP. Unlike in Exp. 1, supplemental UIP improved (P < 0.05) cow weight gain. Calves from dams supplemented with DIP gained 5 kg more weight after 60 d than calves from dams deficient in DIP. Pregnancy rates in the fall were similar (P = 0.90) among treatments. These data suggest that DIP was more limiting in Exp. 1 than was UIP. Supplementing UIP in Exp. 2 improved cow weight gains but did not improve calf gains. Data suggest that the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis for this forage-based diet was probably less than 10%.     

早期断奶对猪生产性能的影响

通过综述早期断奶对仔猪的消化吸收和免疫抗病,对母猪的发情、受胎、产仔以及繁殖寿命的影响,提示在研究和应用早期断奶技术时,要充分遵循生物学规律,才能取得最大限度的经济效益。     

The effect of weaning method on coccidial infections in beef calves

Weaning is often cited as a stressful event that can precipitate clinical coccidiosis in cattle. Recently, two-stage weaning methods have been investigated as a means to reduce stress in calves. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of weaning method on fecal oocyst count (FOC) and Eimeria spp. composition. A group of 108 beef calves (190-240 days of age) were allocated to three treatments on day -7: a fenceline weaned group where calves could see and hear their dams, but were physically separated from them by a fence (FL), a noseclipped group where suckling was prevented (NC), and a group left with their dams to be traditionally weaned (TW) by abrupt separation on day 0. On day 0, noseclips were removed from the NC calves and all groups were completely separated from their dams. The steers (n=50) were transported 172 km to another farm, and heifers (n=58) were taken to distant fields on the same farm. Rectal fecal samples were collected from all calves on days -7, 0, and 14. Steers were also sampled on days 7, 28, and 42. A group of steers (n=24) from each of the treatments previously described were fitted with pedometers and intensively observed on days 1-4. The Modified McMaster's test and Wisconsin sugar flotation test were used for quantification and identification of Eimeria spp. oocysts. Clinical coccidiosis was not observed during the study. Fecal oocyst counts did not differ between treatment groups on any sampling day. Differences between steer and heifer FOC were not detected. Treatment had no effect on species composition, but time effects were detected in the steers. The mean percentage of E. bovis was lower (P<0.05) on days 28 and 42 than all other sampling days. The decrease in the percentage of E. bovis was accompanied by an increase (P<0.05) in the percentage of E. canadensis on days 28 and 42. Behavioral observation showed that TW steers exhibited higher levels of stress related behavior (P<0.05) following complete separation, although this was not reflected in FOC.     

代乳料与早期断奶对甘肃仔马鹿生长发育的影响

为了探索科学的饲养管理方法,提高甘肃马鹿的养殖水平,本试验对仔马鹿进行了早期断奶及其代乳料的试验研究。试验采用单因子随机分组设计,将24只60日龄甘肃仔马鹿随机分为4组,其中A、B、D为试验组,C为对照组,自然哺乳。试验组于仔鹿60日龄断奶,进行了30 d饲养试验,结果表明,仔鹿60日龄早期断奶是可行的,试验期内断奶仔鹿未发生腹泻、下痢等疾病。60日龄断奶后,饲喂A、B两组代乳料的效果与自然哺乳C组相近;D组效果则不理想。     

The effect of concentrate level and concentrate composition on the performance of growing dairy heifers reared and finished for beef production

Abstract

The objectives of the study with growing dairy heifers were to determine the effects on animal performance of (1) concentrate level and (2) the concentrate composition in the grass silage-based diet. Animals (30 heifers) were randomly assigned to three feeding treatments: (1) low level (1.75 kg dry matter (DM)/d) of rolled barley (LB); (2) low level (1.75 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (LC); and (3) medium level (3.5 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (MC). All animals were also offered grass silage and hay. The commercial concentrate contained more crude protein than barley grain (135 g/kg DM vs. 205 g/kg DM). The data were analysed using analysis of variance and differences between the treatments were tested by orthogonal contrasts: LC vs. MC and LB vs. LC. The growth of the heifers increased and carcass conformation improved with increasing concentrate level. Commercial concentrate did not improve animal performance compared with barley grain.     

The effects of zeranol on growth and fattening in beef calves before weaning

Four-month-old beef calves were implanted with 36 mg zeranol, and their growth compared with untreated calves. Treated steer and heifer calves gained 10 kg more bodyweight to weaning at 7.5 months of age. The trial was conducted at 2 research centres and calves at both centres showed significant responses for the first 45 days (P less than 0.001) after treatment but during the following 30 days only calves at one centre showed a continued response (P less than 0.05). No differences in growth rate occurred between treated and untreated calves over the final 30 days before weaning at either centre. The backfat measurement of untreated animals increased more than that of the implanted animals (P less than 0.05) at one centre but not at the other.     

Minimising the stress of weaning of beef calves: a review

Weaning of beef calves is usually done abruptly and early compared to the natural weaning of the species, and is associated with simultaneous exposure of calves to a range of social and environmental stressors. Behavioural and physiological responses to weaning indicate detrimental effects on the welfare of these animals. The development and assessment of weaning methods aiming at reducing or avoiding this problem must be supported by scientific knowledge of the morphological, physiological and psychological mechanisms involved in the establishment, maintenance and braking of the cow-calf bond. Solutions also depend on the understanding of the various stressors associated with weaning, among which are the change in diet, cessation of nursing, separation from the dam, the change to a new spatial environment and the need for social reorganization following removal of the adults from the group. This review discusses these issues and assesses the effectiveness of the methods so far proposed for improving the welfare of beef calves during the weaning period.     

早期断奶对羔羊生长发育的影响

将120只10～15 日龄的德国美利奴羊(♂)×小尾寒羊(♀)杂交一代羔羊随机分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组,Ⅰ组于35 日龄断奶、Ⅱ组于45日龄断奶、Ⅲ组于60 日龄断奶、Ⅳ组于90日龄断奶.结果表明:60 d体重4组间无显著差异(P>O.05);90 d体重,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组极显著(P(0.01)高于Ⅰ组,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组间差异不显著(P>O.05).30～60日龄日增重,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组极显著高于Ⅰ组(PO.05).45日龄断奶,羔羊体质健壮,抗病能力较强,综合效益高,为最佳断奶时间.     

Effects of energy and lasalocid on productivity of first-calf heifers

One hundred forty-three crossbred, fall-calving first-calf heifers were used to determine the effects of two levels of energy and two levels of lasalocid on cow-calf productivity. Diets fed for approximately 110 d prepartum were calculated to provide a daily intake of 15.3 (LE) or 18.0 (HE) Mcal ME; diets fed for approximately 130 d postpartum were calculated to provide a daily intake of 17.8 (LE) or 21.0 (HE) Mcal ME. Two supplements were fed with each energy level to provide a calculated 0 (C) or 200 mg.hd-1.d-1 lasalocid (L). Heifers fed HE gained .06 kg more (P = .08) per day prepartum than LE heifers. There was an interaction (P less than .05) between treatment and prepartum days on trial for heifer weight approximately 2 wk prepartum and body condition at calving. Energy had no effect on heifer weight at 2 wk prepartum or condition score at calving when estimated and compared at 90 d on trial. However, regression estimates for 130 d on trial showed that HE heifers would have been 19 kg heavier (P less than .001) and would have had .4 unit higher condition score (P less than .01) than LE heifers. Energy and lasalocid had no effect (P greater than .05) on hip height or pelvic area at calving or on calf birth weight, calving ease score or gestation length. Cows fed HE weighed 17 kg more (P less than .05) and had .5 unit higher (P less than .001) condition score than LE cows at approximately 130 d postpartum. Lasalocid had little effect on postpartum changes in weight or body condition. Lasalocid supplementation to the LE diet tended to increase milk production and calf weight, whereas supplementation to the HE diet did not. Feeding the LE diet decreased (P less than .05) cycling activity by 18 percentage points and decreased (P less than .01) overall pregnancy rate by 25 percentage points. Lasalocid had no influence on reproductive performance.     

添加生沛素对早期断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

生沛素是一种全天然、无残留的微生态制剂 ,也称益生素 ,含有甘露寡聚糖 (ＭＯＳ)及 β -葡聚糖 ,是一种高科技生物制品 ,能有效改善畜禽胃肠道的发酵作用并促进有益菌增殖 ,保持肠道微生态平衡 ,提高饲料利用率 ,提高早期断奶仔猪生长速度和日增重。同时 ,其所含甘露寡聚糖还可竞争性地与某些病原菌结合 ,减少了这些有害菌与肠粘膜上皮细胞接触 ,提高机体免疫功能 ,从而减少腹泻起到防病抗病作用。为证实生沛素对断奶仔猪的作用效果 ,我们进行了生沛素和强力酵素、肥乳酸不同组合对早期断奶仔猪生长性能影响的对比试验。1　材料与方法1 1…     

Relation of growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone before weaning and postweaning growth performance in beef calves

Previously, GH response to GHRH challenge at weaning has been shown to be indicative of ADG during a standard postweaning growth performance test in Angus cattle. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that GH response to GHRH before weaning would predict postweaning ADG. Bulls with the highest and lowest GH responses to GHRH over a 3-yr period, relative to their contemporaries, were used as sires, to allow for examination of the persistence of GH response to GHRH through selection. The selected calves in this study were sired by one of four Angus bulls chosen based on their GH response to GHRH (high response, n = 2; low response, n = 2). Forty-nine Angus calves (bulls, n = 24; heifers, n = 25) were challenged with GHRH at approximately 60, 105, and 150 d of age and at weaning (219 d; SD = 25). Blood samples were taken immediately prior to and 10 min following an i.v. clearance dose of 4.5 microg of GHRH/100 kg BW and, 2 h later, immediately prior to and 10 min following a challenge dose of either 1.5 or 4.5 microg of GHRH/100 kg BW. Two hours later, the procedure was repeated, with each calf receiving the other challenge dose. Body weight was measured every 28 d and ADG was calculated over a 140-d growth performance test (heifers and bulls maintained separately). Data were log-transformed for statistical analyses. In the selected bulls and heifers, response of GH to 1.5 microg of GHRH/100 kg BW at 60 and 105 d of age was positively related (P < 0.05) to postweaning ADG. Response to 4.5 microg of GHRH/100 kg BW at 105 d of age and at weaning was positively related (P < 0.01) to postweaning ADG. Inclusion of sire in the analysis improved the relationship between GH response and ADG for calves of sires with high GH responses from R2 = 0.18 (P = 0.01) to R2 = 0.33 (P = 0.02). When the GH response to GHRH of the unselected calves at weaning was added to the data from the selected animals and analyzed, the GH response of the bulls was related to postweaning ADG (R2 = 0.09; P = 0.04). In conclusion, GH response to GHRH as early as 60 d of age is indicative of postweaning ADG in beef cattle. In addition, the relationship between GH response to GHRH and postweaning ADG is improved with selection for greater GH response to GHRH.     

人工乳对早期断奶仔猪生长性能影响的研究

早期断奶仔猪常出现断奶应激,导致腹泻。“102人工乳”具有多种生理功能,可显著降低断奶应激,减少腹泻,促进生长。因此通过饲喂人工乳,可以达到减少断奶应激、促进仔猪生长的目的。     

Effect of initial restraint, weaning, and transport stress on baseline and ACTH-stimulated cortisol responses in beef calves of different genotypes.

The productivity and well-being of animals can be substantially affected by stress. This is particularly true in the case of beef calves that are subjected to a multitude of stressors over a short period during the first year of life. Perhaps the most often studied stress-responsive variable has been blood corticosteroid concentrations. Factors such as age, gender, genetics, and degree of prior experience, can influence how an animal perceives and responds to a given stressor. Few studies have tried to control these variables, and accordingly, many conflicting results have been published regarding the impact of various stressors on cortisol response. We measured baseline plasma cortisol concentration over a 44-day study in Bos indicus and Bos taurus calves. Plasma cortisol values in Bos indicus calves were higher (32.60 +/- 0.66 ng/ml) than values in calves of Bos taurus (25.81 +/- 0.76) breeding. A precipitous decrease in cortisol concentration was observed 7 days after transport stress in all calves. Baseline cortisol concentration did not provide any indication of the intensity of the various stressors. However, significant differences were readily observed after ACTH administration. On the basis of cortisol secretion, stresses of transport and weaning were similar and were the most stressful to calves, regardless of genotype.