BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies have investigated the inclusion of amino acids in calf starter. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to evaluate different levels of crude protein in starter and supplement- ing some protected amino acids on efficiency, health status and blood metabolites of dairy calves and to com- pare it with unprotected amino acids. <st...

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) supplementation of colostrum replacer (CR) fed as 1 or 2 doses on apparent efficiency of IgG absorption, serum IgG concentrations, and xylose absorption/intestinal development in neonatal Holstein bull calves. Eighty bull calves were assigned to a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete b...

the effect of barley or triticale and monensin on fattening performance of brown swiss calves (with average body weight of 170±30 kg) were studied in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of 2×2 and 4 replicates. experimental treatments were: 1- barley grain without monensin 2- barley grain with monensin 3- triticale grain without monensin and 4- triticale grain with monensi...

Growth and health in newborn dairy calves are highly related, and can be impaired by several stressors such as transportation, colostrum deprivation, and poor maternal nutrition. However, these stressors can be mitigated by good management and adequate early nutrition. Quality of management may vary among dairies but adequate early nutrition might be able to be more consistently controlled. A c...

UNLABELLED The first cause of death of dairy calves is often diarrhea which is mainly caused by pathogenic bacteria, which can result in excessive use of antibiotics. However, facing the increase concern by the industry and consumers, the use of antibiotics not only to control pathogens, but also to manipulate growth, has become a challenge. Alternative additives, such essential oils, have the ...

The severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections appears to differ with age in both humans and bovines. A primary RSV infection in naïve infants and in young calves runs a more severe course when they are 1-6 months old than in their first month of life. The relative lack of clinical signs in the first month of age may be due to high levels of maternally derived neutralizing antibod...

Herd-level risk factors for dairy calf and heifer mortality in France were identified by calculating herd-level variables (including mortality risk or rate) using the National Bovine Identification Database (2005 and 2006). Eleven dairy production areas representing different livestock systems were also included. Statistical analyses were based on a probit model (mortality risk or rate=0 or >0)...