Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of animal and poultry science, college of aburaihan

2 Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-88349, Iran

4 Aboureihan

5 Talise-Asil Jahan Co., Varamin, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the effects of offering wheat straw as free choice with different particle sizes on ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and nutrients digestibility of Holstein dairy calves. Individually housed calves (n = 40, BW = 43.8 ±3.2 kg) were used in a completely randomized design and divided to four different treatments consisting of: 1) starter feed without wheat straw supplementation (control; CON), 2) starter feed + wheat straw with 1mm geometrical mean particle length (GMPL, Fine), 3) starter feed + wheat straw with 4mm GMPL (Medium), and 4) starter feed + wheat straw with 7mm GMPL (Long). Calves entered the trial on d 15, weaned on d 56 and the study ended on d 90 of age. After morning feeding, the ruminal pH were increased by offering forage only at 8 h on d 35 and 4 and 8 h on d 90 (P = 0.05). The total short chain fatty acids concentration (SCFAs), molar proportion of acetate and propionate were similar across treatments, however, the molar proportion of butyrate increased (P = 0.04) in forage supplemented calves compared with CON calves. Regardless of forage particle size, dry matter and crude protein digestibilities were increased in forage supplemented calves compared with CON calves (P = 0.05). Moreover, no differences were found for different geometrical mean particle length of WS. Overall, free-choice provision of wheat straw enhanced ruminal pH, apparent nutrient digestibility, and rumen development indicators (BHBA) in Holstein dairy calves.

Keywords

AOAC. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA.
ASAE, 1996:S424.1. Method of determining and expressing particle size of chopped forage materials by sieving. ASAE, St Joseph, MI, USA.
Beharka, A., Nagaraja, A., Morrill, T.G., Kennedy, J.L., and Klemm, R.D. (1998). Effects of form of the diet on anatomical, microbial, and fermentative development of the rumen of neonatal calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 81: 1946-1955.
Beiranvand, H., Ghorbani, G.R., Khorvash, M., Nabipour, A., Dehghan-Banadaky, M., Homayouni, A., & Kargar, S. (2014). Interactions of alfalfa hay and sodium propionate on dairy calf performance and rumen development. Journal of Dairy Science. 97:  2270-2280.
Castells, L., Bach, A., Araujo, G., Montoro, C., & Terré, M. (2012). Effect of different forage sources on performance and feeding behavior of Holstein calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 95: 286-293.
Castells, L., Bach, A., Aris, A., & Terré, M. (2013). Effects of forage provision to young calves on rumen fermentation and development of the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of dairy science. 98: 5226-5236.
Daneshvar, D., Khorvash, M., Ghasemi, E., Mahdavi, A.H., Moshiri, B., Mirzaei, M., & Ghaffari, M.H. (2015). The effect of restricted milk feeding through conventional or step-down methods with or without forage provision in starter feed on performance of Holstein bull calves. Journal of animal science. 93: 3979-3989.
Drackley, J. K. (2008). Calf nutrition from birth to breeding. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 24: 55-86.
EbnAli, A., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G.R., Mahdavi, A.H., Malekkhahi, M., Mirzaei, M., & Ghaffari, M.H. (2016). Effects of forage offering method on performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and nutritional behaviour in Holstein dairy calves. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition. 100: 820-827.
Ghelichkhan, M., Eun, J. S., Christensen, R. G., Stott, R. D., & MacAdam, J. W. (2018). Urine volume and nitrogen excretion are altered by feeding birdsfoot trefoil compared with alfalfa in lactating dairy cows. Journal of animal science. 96: 3993-4001.
Guo, J., Chang, G., Zhang, K., Xu, L., Jin, D., Bilal, M. S., & Shen, X. (2017). Rumen-derived lipopolysaccharide provoked inflammatory injury in the liver of dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet. Oncotarget 8: 46769.
Hill, T. M., Bateman Ii, H.G., Aldrich, J.M., & Schlotterbeck, R.L. (2010). Effect of milk replacer program on digestion of nutrients in dairy calves. Journal of dairy science 93: 1105-1115.
Hill, T. M., Bateman II, H. G., Aldrich, J. M., & Schlotterbeck, R. L. (2008). Effects of the amount of chopped hay or cottonseed hulls in a textured calf starter on young calf performance. Journal of Dairy Science 91: 2684-2693.
Khan, M. A., Bach, A., Weary, D. M., & Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. (2016). Invited review: Transitioning from milk to solid feed in dairy heifers. Journal of dairy science. 99: 885-902.
Laarman, A. H., & Oba, M. (2011). Effect of calf starter on rumen pH of Holstein dairy calves at weaning. Journal of dairy science. 94: 5661-5664.
Mirzaei, M., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G. R., Kazemi-Bonchenari, M., & Ghaffari, M. H. (2017). Growth performance, feeding behavior, and selected blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves fed restricted amounts of milk: No interactions between sources of finely ground grain and forage provision. Journal of dairy science. 100: 1086-1094.
Mirzaei, M., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G. R., Kazemi‐Bonchenari, M., Riasi, A., Nabipour, A., & Van Den Borne, J. J. G. C. (2015). Effects of supplementation level and particle size of alfalfa hay on growth characteristics and rumen development in dairy calves. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition. 99: 553-564.
National Research Council. (2001). Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle: 2001. National Academies Press.
Nasrollahi, S. M., Imani, M& Zebeli, Q. (2015). A meta- analysis and meta-regression of the effect of the forge particle size, level, source and preservation method on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and performance in dairy cows. Journal of dairy science 98: 8926-8939.
Nemati, M., Amanlou, H., Khorvash, M., Moshiri, B., Mirzaei, M., Khan, M. A., & Ghaffari, M. H. (2015). Rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and growth performance of calves during transition from liquid to solid feed: Effects of dietary level and particle size of alfalfa hay. Journal of dairy science. 98: 7131-7141.
Omidi-Mirzaei, H., Azarfar, A., Mirzaei, M., Kiani, A., & Ghaffari, M. H. (2018). Effects of forage source and forage particle size as a free-choice provision on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and behavior of dairy calves fed texturized starters. Journal of dairy science. 101: 4143-4157.
Plaizier, J. C., Khafipour, E., Li, S., Gozho, G. N., & Krause, D. O. (2012). Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), endotoxins and health consequences. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 172:  9-21.
Porter, J. C., Warner, R. G., Kertz, A. F. (2007). Effect of fiber level and physical form of starter on growth and development of dairy calves fed no forage. Professional Animal Scientist 23: 395–400.
Qttenstein, D. M., & Bartley, D. A. (1971). Separation of free acids C2–C5 in dilute aqueous solution column technology. Journal of Chromatographic Science 99: 673-681.
Quigley, J. D., Wallis, L. B., Dowlen, H. H., & Heitmann, R. N. (1992). Sodium bicarbonate and yeast culture effects on ruminal fermentation, growth, and intake in dairy calves. Journal of dairy science. 75: 3531-3538.
Suárez, B. J., Van Reenen, C. G., Stockhofe, N., Dijkstra, J., & Gerrits, W. J. J. (2007). Effect of roughage source and roughage to concentrate ratio on animal performance and rumen development in veal calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 95: 2390-2403.
Terré, M., Castells, L., Fàbregas, F., & Bach, A. (2013). Comparison of pH, volatile fatty acids, and microbiome of rumen samples from preweaned calves obtained via cannula or stomach tube. Journal of dairy science. 96: 5290-5294.
Thomas, D. B., & Hinks, C. E. (1982). The effect of changing the physical form of roughage on the performance of the early-weaned calf. Animal Science. 35: 375-384.