Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 graduate student, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran
3 Retired Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different proportions of colostrum intake to body weight and different feeding times on starter intake, immunity and performance factors. The experimental groups included: 1- control: 7.5% (2 hours) +3.75% (4 hours later), 2: 7.5% (2 hours) + 7.5% (12 hours later), 3: 10% (2 hours) + 5% (12 hours later), 4: 5% (2 hours) + 5% (6 hour later) + 5% (12 hours later) and 5: ad-libitum colostrum was every 6 hours. The results showed that mean of feed intake did not differ between the experimental groups, also Mean of weight at the end of experimental period, as well as daily gain after weaning were lower in groups 4 and 5 compared to other experimental groups (P0.001). Blood cholesterol concentration was higher in group 3 and 5 compared to other experimental groups (P <0.05), but the percentage of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count was not affected. The count of white blood cells was not affected by the experimental groups at day 4, however group 3 had lower WBC compared to other experimental groups (P <0.05) at day 14. The percentage of neutrophils was higher in group 3 compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.05) at day 4. The percentage of neutrophil was lower (P=0.007), while lymphocyte was higher (P-0.008) in groups 3 and 5 at d 14. The incidence of diarrhea, pneumonia, infectious and gastrointestinal problems did not differ between experimental groups.
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