Performance and development of gastric compartments of calves fed with cheese whey and transition milk

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate whether cheese whey associated with transitional milk or not, could serve as a suitable alternative to whole milk for calf rearing. For this, twenty-four male calves of crossbred Holstein-Zebu, were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments (8 calves per treatment) and fed for 60 days with one of the following liquid diets: i) 100% whole milk, ii) 50% whole milk and 50% cheese whey, and iii) 30% transitional milk and 70% cheese whey. There was no difference in food intake between treatments. The analysis showed that whole milk replacement did not alter the stomach weight or the ruminal cell proliferation when compared to treatment using 100% whole milk; however, the transitional milk/cheese whey group showed larger ruminal papillae. These results suggested that a transitional milk-cheese whey diet associated with solid food and proper nutrient complements might enhance the post-natal development of rumen papillae in calves, which might contribute to prepare them for weaning.

摘要：本研究旨在评估添加或不添加转乳期乳（transitional milk）的干酪乳清（cheese whey），能否作为犊牛饲养中全脂牛乳的合适替代品。为此，将24头荷斯坦-瘤牛（Holstein-Zebu）杂交公犊牛采用完全随机设计（completely randomized design）分为3组（每组8头），开展为期60天的饲喂试验，各组分别饲喂以下三种液态日粮：i）100%全脂牛乳；ii）50%全脂牛乳与50%干酪乳清；iii）30%转乳期乳与70%干酪乳清。各组间采食量无显著差异。分析结果显示，相较于100%全脂牛乳组，全脂牛乳替代组的胃重量与瘤胃细胞增殖均未发生改变；但转乳期乳与干酪乳清混合组的瘤胃乳头尺寸更大。上述结果表明，配合固体饲料与适宜营养补充剂的转乳期乳-干酪乳清日粮，可促进犊牛瘤胃乳头的产后发育，有助于为犊牛断奶做好准备。