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Influence of Similarly Flavored Milk Replacers and Starters on Calf Starter Consumption and Growth1
Influence of Similarly Flavored Milk Replacers and Starters on Calf Starter Consumption and Growth I N. K. T H O M S E N 2 and R. B. R I N D S I G 3
Department of Dairy Science University of Hlinois Urbana 61801
daily gain (g) to 8 wk for treatment combinations involving the same flavor were 45.2, 415 for control replacercontrol starter; 45.4, 428 for butter replacer-butter starter; 48.9, 484 for milk arome replacer-milk arome starter; and 46.3, 427 for maple replacer-maple starter.
ABSTRACT
One of three commercial feed flavors, butter, milk arome, or maple, was added to a milk replacer and a starter to determine if a flavor association by calves would increase starter consumption and growth. Eighty-five calves were randomized completely to 1 of 16 treatment combinations arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial experiment. Calves received milk replacer from day 6 to weaning at 5 wk. Starter was offered ad libitum from day 6 to 8 wk. Butter and milk arome flavor were added to milk replacer at 500 mg/kg and starter at 750 mg/kg. Maple was added to milk replacer at 990 mg/kg and starter at 1980 mg/kg. Data were subjected to analysis of covariance with sex, breed, date of birth, and birth weight as covariables. There was no effect of flavor in milk replacer on starter consumption or growth as compared to the control milk replacer. Calves fed maple starter consumed more starter to 8 wk and from 6 to 8 wk than did calves fed the control starter. Average daily gain to 5 wk and from 6 to 8 wk was greater for calves fed maple starter, and to 8 wk for calves fed either maple starter or milk arome starter than for calves fed the control starter. Least squares means for starter consumption (kg) and average daily gain (g) to 8 wk for treatments control, butter, milk arome, and maple starters were 42.2, 367; 46.2, 427; 47.7, 431; and 48.8, 469. Starter consumption (kg) and average
INTRODUCTION
Consumption of dry feed by calves at an early age is desirable to enable earlier weaning and ensure rapid rumen development. A method which may increase consumption of dry feed and encourage earlier consumption of dry feed is flavor cuing. Flavor cuing occurs when flavors in the milk and starter influence consumption of the dry feed. By using a similarly flavored liquid and dry feed, the dietary preferences of young animals may be influenced and lead to earlier consumption and increased intake of the dry feed. Flavor cuing was first identified in rats. This work (5, 6, 7, 8) resulted in the conclusions that mother's milk contained cues reflecting the flavor of the mother's diet and that these cues were sufficient to influence dietary preference of young rats at weaning. Flavor cuing has been studied recently in pigs (3, 4) and calves ( 1 0 ) . The objective of this research was to study ~he relationship between flavored milk replacer and consumption of a similarly flavored calf starter and to measure growth response and feed consumption of dairy calves on a cued versus a standard feeding program. The effect of added flavor compared to no flavor addition to starters for calves also was studied.
Received March 5, 1979. a Supported by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station as a part of Regional Research Project NC-119, Improving Large Dairy Herd Management Practices. 2Morrow Co. Agricultural Extension office, Mr. Gilead, OH 43338. aTo whom reprint requests should be sent. 1980 J Dairy Sci 63:1864-1868
EXPERIMENTAL
PROCEDURE
Eighty-five calves from the University of Illinois dairy herd were completely randomized to 1 to 16 treatment combinations arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial experiment. Each of four milk
1864
FLAVORS IN CALF DIETS replacers (R) was in combination with each of four starter (S) diets, with or without flavor. Three readily available flavors, butter (B), milk arome (MA), and maple (MP), were used with an unflavored control (C) for both treatments. Forty-five female (7 Brown Swiss and 38 Holsteins) and 40 male (4 Brown Swiss and 36 Holsteins) calves born between February and August, 1978, were assigned to the different treatment combinations. Treatment combinations and number of calves per treatment are in Table 1. Calves were removed from their dams at 1 day of age and placed in individual pens (1.5 m × 1.5 m) with solid partitions. Milk was fed twice daily to 6 days of age. Milk replacer 4 was fed twice daily from day 6 through day 35. The amount of milk replacer fed daily was based on 1% birth weight with water added equivalent to 8% birth weight. A 21.8% crude protein starter s was offered ad lib beginning on day 6 through 56. Feed refusals were recorded and weekly intakes determined. One of three flavor compounds 6 (butter, milk arome, and maple) each was added to milk replacer and starter depending on the treatment combinations. Artificial butter flavor (ethyl butyrate and other esters, diacetyl and other ketones, vanillin and other aldehydes, acetic acid and other organic acids, propylene glycol, and butylated hydroxytoluene) or milk arome flavor (butyl butyrl lactate and other esters, vanillin and other aldehydes, and caproic acid and other organic acids) was added to milk replacer at 500 mg/kg and to starter at 750 mg/kg. Maple flavor (fenugreek and other oleoresins, vanillin and other carbonyl compounds, propylene glycol, and hydroxytoluene) was added at 990 mg/kg milk replacer and 1980 mg/kg starter. Calf weights, body measurements, and fecal scores were obtained following the guidelines
4Professional Veal Starter, Milk Specialties, Inc., Dundee, IL.; 20% crude protein, 16% crude fat; all protein from milk sources. SContaining in percent of dry matter: ground shelled corn, 50.5; soybean oil meal, 22.5; rolled oats, 10.0; wheat bran, 10.0; dried molasses, 5.0; potassium carbonate, .65 ; dicalcium phosphate, .5; trace mineralized salt, .70; and vitamins A and D, .15. 6Supplied by Milk Specialties, Inc. Manufactured by Feed Flavors, Inc., Wheeling, IL.
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TABLE 1. Number of calves assigned to each combination of milk replacer and starter treatments. Starter Milk replacer Control Butter Milk arome Maple Total
Control 6 6 6 6 24
Milk Butter arome Maple Total 6 6 4 5a 21
6 4 6 4
6 5 3 6
20
20
24 21 19 21
aone calf sold at 7 wk.
proposed by Larson et al. (9) for reporting calf experimental data. Body weights were obtained weekly for each calf on the anniversary of its birth. Height at withers and length from withers to pins were recorded at birth, weaning (5 wk), and at the end of the trial (8 wk). Fecal scores were recorded daily following the guidelines established by Larson et al. (9). Analyses were by the general linear model procedure of SAS76 (2). Sex, breed, date of birth, and birth weight were covariables. Least squares means for starter consumption and average daily gain were obtained for main and interaction effects. RESULTS
Flavor in milk replacer or flavor in starter did not influence number of days to first starter consumption. No flavor association of milk replacer-starter treatment combinations was found in days to first starter consumption. Overall mean + standard error of the mean for days from birth to measurable consumption of starter was 12.9 +- .6 days. No weekly differences in starter consumption or average daily gain (ADG) were found either by milk replacer or starter treatment or by any milk replacer-starter treatment combinations. Differences were in overall starter consumption and ADG to weaning (0 to 5 wk), after weaning (6 to 8 wk), and over the entire experiment (0 to 8 wk). Starter consumption by flavor in milk replacer and flavor in starter are in Table 2. Flavor in milk replacer had no effect on starter consumption. Flavor in starter did affect starter Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
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THOMSEN AND RINDSIG
TABLE 2. Least squares means (-+ SE) of starter consumption before and after weaning by milk replacer and by starter. Starter consumption (kg) Control
Butter
Milk arome
Maple
R
SE
R
SE
X
SE
X
SE
Milk replacer 0 - 5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0--8 weeks
12.8 34.8 47.8
1.1 1.6 2.5
10.1 33.8 44.0
1.2 1.7 2.8
12.6 37.7 50.4
1.3 1.9 3.0
11,2 31.7 42.7
1.2 1.7 2.7
Starter 0--5 weeks 6--8 weeks 0--8 weeks
10.0 32.1 41.2
1.1 1.5 2.5
11.6 34.6 46.2
1.2 1.7 2.7
12.5 35.2 47.7
1.2 1.7 2.8
12.6 36.2 48.8
1.3 1.8 a 2.8 a
aDifferent from control starter P < . I O .
were greater to w e a n i n g (P=.10). T h o s e o f f e r e d m i l k a r o m e s t a r t e r gained m o r e to w e a n i n g ( P = . l l ) a n d to 8 w k (P=.10). Average daily gain f o r calves fed m a p l e s t a r t e r were g r e a t e r b e f o r e w e a n i n g (P=-.03), a f t e r w e a n i n g (P=.06), a n d to 8 w k (P=-.02) t h a n for calves f e d t h e c o n t r o l starter. In all cases, g r o u p s o f calves o f f e r e d similarly flavored m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d s t a r t e r h a d h i g h e r m e a n w e i g h t gains (Table 5) t h a n t h o s e fed t h e c o n t r o l replacer a n d starter. However, these d i f f e r e n c e s were n o t significant (P<. 10). Height at w i t h e r s a n d l e n g t h f r o m withers t o pins were similar f o r all t r e a t m e n t s . Fecal scores r e a c h e d a m a x i m u m 8 to 11 days a f t e r b i r t h a n d were n o t a f f e c t e d b y t r e a t m e n t .
c o n s u m p t i o n . C o n s u m p t i o n o f milk a r o m e s t a r t e r was greater t h a n c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e c o n t r o l s t a r t e r t o weaning (P=.12) a n d to 8 w k (P=.12). Maple s t a r t e r i n t a k e was also g r e a t e r than that of the control after weaning (P<.10) a n d t o 8 wk (P=.09). No associative effects b e t w e e n the same flavor in m i l k replacer a n d s t a r t e r were f o u n d relative t o s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n (Table 3). Flavor in milk replacer h a d n o e f f e c t o n A D G (Table 4). This was e x p e c t e d because a m o u n t o f r e p l a c e r o f f e r e d was restricted a n d n o i n t a k e p r o b l e m s occurred. Weight gain o f calves fed t h e flavored s t a r t e r was g r e a t e r t h a n for t h o s e calves fed t h e u n f l a v o r e d s t a r t e r (Table 4). Gains for calves fed b u t t e r s t a r t e r
TABLE 3. Least squares means (-+ SE) of starter consumption before and after weaning by milk replacer and starter combinations involving the same flavor.
Starter consumption (kg) Treatment a
0--5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks
Control-control
10.4 34.8 45.2
Butter-butter
Milk arome-milk arome
Maple-maple
SE
.X
SE
.X
SE
X
SE
2.2 3.1 4.9
11.3 34.1 45.4
2.2 3.2 5.0
10.9 38.1 48.9
2.3 3.2 5.0
12.5 33.7 46.3
2.2 3.1 4.9
aDifferences were not significant, P<.05. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
FLAVORS IN CALF DIETS
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TABLE 4. Least squares means (± SE) for average daily gain (ADG) before and after weaning by milk replacer and by starter. ADG (g) Control
Milk replacer 0 - 5 weeks 6--8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks St~ter 0 - 5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks
Butter
Milk arorne
Maple
SE
X
SE
X
SE
X
SE
288 722 438
25 44 26
235 702 398
28 49 29
288 834 478
30 53 31
251 626
27 48 29
214 652 376
25 44 26
272 722 427
27 49 29
272 730 431
28 49 29 a
380 303 782 469
28 b 50 a 30 b
aDifferent from control starter, P<.10. bDifferent from control starter, P<.05.
DISCUSSION
calf s t a r t e r agrees w i t h results o f Morrill a n d D a y t o n (10). In o u r s t u d y less flavor and m o r e flavors were used. C a m p b e l l (4) f o u n d increased gains for w e a n e d pigs fed a s t a r t e r w i t h an a d d e d flavor c o m p o u n d t h a t also h a d b e e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e diet o f t h e sows t h e y h a d nursed. More r e c e n t l y , B e b i a k e t al. (3) cond u c t e d a similar e x p e r i m e n t w i t h pigs a n d r e p o r t e d n o associative e f f e c t a f t e r w e a n i n g w h e n a flavor c o m p o u n d was fed to l a c t a t i n g sows a n d t h e n i n c l u d e d in a s t a r t e r diet fed to t h e i r pigs. A d d i t i o n o f flavors to calf starters m a y increase s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d g r o w t h . No conclusive e v i d e n c e was f o u n d to i n d i c a t e an associative e f f e c t b e t w e e n flavor in milk r e p l a c e r a n d flavor in starter. This does n o t m e a n t h a t d i f f e r e n t flavors m a y n o t p r o v i d e d i f f e r e n t
P r e f e r e n c e b y calves for flavored s t a r t e r s has b e e n r e p o r t e d . Wing (12) s h o w e d t h a t y o u n g calves, p a r t i c u l a r l y b e t w e e n 31 a n d 6 0 days o f age, p r e f e r flavored feed r a t h e r t h a n u n f l a v o r e d . Atai a n d H a r s h b a r g e r (1) a d d e d molasses, dextrose, or sugar to calf starters. Increased s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d w e i g h t gains r e s u l t e d c o m p a r e d to feeding o f a c o n t r o l starter. Wallace a n d Riggs (11) f o u n d t h a t w e a n e d H e r e f o r d steers c o n s u m e d m o r e feed w h e n flavors were a d d e d . Increased s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d w e i g h t gain has b e e n r e p o r t e d b y Morrill a n d D a y t o n (10) w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f a c o m m e r c i a l feed flavor to a calf starter. Lack o f conclusive e v i d e n c e in o u r s t u d y f o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f an associative e f f e c t b e t w e e n flavored m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d a similarly flavored
TABLE 5. Least squares means (-+ SE) for average daily gain before and after weaning by milk replacer and starter combinations involving the same flavor. Average daily gain (g) Treatment a
0--5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0--8 weeks
Control-control
Butter-butter
Milk arome-milk arome
Maple-maple
SE
X
SE
X
SE
X,
SE
238
49
274
746
87
719
415
52
428
50 89 53
271 873 482
51 89 53
266 730 427
49 87 52
aDifferences were not significant, P<.05. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
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THOMSEN AND RINDSIG
results. Studies c o n c e r n e d w i t h flavor associat i o n s also s h o u l d be offering calves a c h o i c e o f starter diets while being fed o n e o f t h e flavors in t h e i r liquid diet. O t h e r kinds and a m o u n t s o f flavors s h o u l d be e x a m i n e d . Flavor p r e f e r e n c e s and taste t h r e s h o l d s have n o t b e e n d e f i n e d well for calves. F u r t h e r research is n e e d e d . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A p p r e c i a t i o n is e x t e n d e d to C. S. Spitz, D. Griffith, M. Eade, M. K a h n , J. Naylor, and B. T h o m s e n for t h e i r help in various aspects o f this project. REFERENCES
1 Atai, S. R., and K. E. Harshbarger. 1965. Effect of substituting dry sugars for molasses in calf starters on feed intake and growth response. J. Dairy Sci. 48: 391. 2 Barr, A. J., J. H. Goodnight, J. P. Sail, and J. T. Helwig. 1976. A Users Guide to SAS76. SAS Institute, Inc., Raleigh, NC. 3 Bebiak, D. M., M. G. Hogberg, and E. R. Miller. 1978. Effectiveness of an aromatic supplement on starter diet consumption. Page 216 in Am. Soc. Anita. Sci., 1978 Meeting Abstr. (Abstr.) 4 Campbell, R. G. 1976. A note on the use of a feed
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
flavour to stimulate the feed intake of weaner pigs. Anim. Prod. 23:417. 5 Galef, E. G., Jr., and M. M. Clark. 1971. Social factors in thepison avoidance and feeding behavior of wild and domesticated rat pups. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 75: 341. 6 Galef, E. G., Jr., and M. M. Clark. 1972. Mother's milk and adult presence: Two factors determining initial dietary selection by weanling rats. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 78: 220. 7 Galef, E. G., Jr., and P. W. Henderson. 1972. Mother's milk: A determinant of the feeding preferences of weaning rat pups. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychnl. 78:213. 8 Galef, E. G., Jr., and D. F. Sherry. 1973. Mother's milk: A medium for the transmission of cues reflecting the flavor of the mother's diet. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 83: 374. 9 Larson, L. L., F. G. Owne, J. L. Albright, R. D. Appleman, and L. D. Muller. 1977. Guidelines toward more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data. J. Dairy Sci. 60:989. 10 Morrill, J. L., and A. D. Dayton. 1978. Effect of feed flavor in milk and calf starter on feed consumption and growth. J. Dairy Sci. 61: 229. 11 Wallace, J. D., and J. K. Riggs. 1967. Moisture, flavor, color and feed acceptability by cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 26:209. (Abstr.) 12 Wing, J. M. 1961. Preferences of calves for a concentrate feed with and without artificial flavor. J. Dairy Sci. 44:725.
Department of Dairy Science University of Hlinois Urbana 61801
daily gain (g) to 8 wk for treatment combinations involving the same flavor were 45.2, 415 for control replacercontrol starter; 45.4, 428 for butter replacer-butter starter; 48.9, 484 for milk arome replacer-milk arome starter; and 46.3, 427 for maple replacer-maple starter.
ABSTRACT
One of three commercial feed flavors, butter, milk arome, or maple, was added to a milk replacer and a starter to determine if a flavor association by calves would increase starter consumption and growth. Eighty-five calves were randomized completely to 1 of 16 treatment combinations arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial experiment. Calves received milk replacer from day 6 to weaning at 5 wk. Starter was offered ad libitum from day 6 to 8 wk. Butter and milk arome flavor were added to milk replacer at 500 mg/kg and starter at 750 mg/kg. Maple was added to milk replacer at 990 mg/kg and starter at 1980 mg/kg. Data were subjected to analysis of covariance with sex, breed, date of birth, and birth weight as covariables. There was no effect of flavor in milk replacer on starter consumption or growth as compared to the control milk replacer. Calves fed maple starter consumed more starter to 8 wk and from 6 to 8 wk than did calves fed the control starter. Average daily gain to 5 wk and from 6 to 8 wk was greater for calves fed maple starter, and to 8 wk for calves fed either maple starter or milk arome starter than for calves fed the control starter. Least squares means for starter consumption (kg) and average daily gain (g) to 8 wk for treatments control, butter, milk arome, and maple starters were 42.2, 367; 46.2, 427; 47.7, 431; and 48.8, 469. Starter consumption (kg) and average
INTRODUCTION
Consumption of dry feed by calves at an early age is desirable to enable earlier weaning and ensure rapid rumen development. A method which may increase consumption of dry feed and encourage earlier consumption of dry feed is flavor cuing. Flavor cuing occurs when flavors in the milk and starter influence consumption of the dry feed. By using a similarly flavored liquid and dry feed, the dietary preferences of young animals may be influenced and lead to earlier consumption and increased intake of the dry feed. Flavor cuing was first identified in rats. This work (5, 6, 7, 8) resulted in the conclusions that mother's milk contained cues reflecting the flavor of the mother's diet and that these cues were sufficient to influence dietary preference of young rats at weaning. Flavor cuing has been studied recently in pigs (3, 4) and calves ( 1 0 ) . The objective of this research was to study ~he relationship between flavored milk replacer and consumption of a similarly flavored calf starter and to measure growth response and feed consumption of dairy calves on a cued versus a standard feeding program. The effect of added flavor compared to no flavor addition to starters for calves also was studied.
Received March 5, 1979. a Supported by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station as a part of Regional Research Project NC-119, Improving Large Dairy Herd Management Practices. 2Morrow Co. Agricultural Extension office, Mr. Gilead, OH 43338. aTo whom reprint requests should be sent. 1980 J Dairy Sci 63:1864-1868
EXPERIMENTAL
PROCEDURE
Eighty-five calves from the University of Illinois dairy herd were completely randomized to 1 to 16 treatment combinations arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial experiment. Each of four milk
1864
FLAVORS IN CALF DIETS replacers (R) was in combination with each of four starter (S) diets, with or without flavor. Three readily available flavors, butter (B), milk arome (MA), and maple (MP), were used with an unflavored control (C) for both treatments. Forty-five female (7 Brown Swiss and 38 Holsteins) and 40 male (4 Brown Swiss and 36 Holsteins) calves born between February and August, 1978, were assigned to the different treatment combinations. Treatment combinations and number of calves per treatment are in Table 1. Calves were removed from their dams at 1 day of age and placed in individual pens (1.5 m × 1.5 m) with solid partitions. Milk was fed twice daily to 6 days of age. Milk replacer 4 was fed twice daily from day 6 through day 35. The amount of milk replacer fed daily was based on 1% birth weight with water added equivalent to 8% birth weight. A 21.8% crude protein starter s was offered ad lib beginning on day 6 through 56. Feed refusals were recorded and weekly intakes determined. One of three flavor compounds 6 (butter, milk arome, and maple) each was added to milk replacer and starter depending on the treatment combinations. Artificial butter flavor (ethyl butyrate and other esters, diacetyl and other ketones, vanillin and other aldehydes, acetic acid and other organic acids, propylene glycol, and butylated hydroxytoluene) or milk arome flavor (butyl butyrl lactate and other esters, vanillin and other aldehydes, and caproic acid and other organic acids) was added to milk replacer at 500 mg/kg and to starter at 750 mg/kg. Maple flavor (fenugreek and other oleoresins, vanillin and other carbonyl compounds, propylene glycol, and hydroxytoluene) was added at 990 mg/kg milk replacer and 1980 mg/kg starter. Calf weights, body measurements, and fecal scores were obtained following the guidelines
4Professional Veal Starter, Milk Specialties, Inc., Dundee, IL.; 20% crude protein, 16% crude fat; all protein from milk sources. SContaining in percent of dry matter: ground shelled corn, 50.5; soybean oil meal, 22.5; rolled oats, 10.0; wheat bran, 10.0; dried molasses, 5.0; potassium carbonate, .65 ; dicalcium phosphate, .5; trace mineralized salt, .70; and vitamins A and D, .15. 6Supplied by Milk Specialties, Inc. Manufactured by Feed Flavors, Inc., Wheeling, IL.
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TABLE 1. Number of calves assigned to each combination of milk replacer and starter treatments. Starter Milk replacer Control Butter Milk arome Maple Total
Control 6 6 6 6 24
Milk Butter arome Maple Total 6 6 4 5a 21
6 4 6 4
6 5 3 6
20
20
24 21 19 21
aone calf sold at 7 wk.
proposed by Larson et al. (9) for reporting calf experimental data. Body weights were obtained weekly for each calf on the anniversary of its birth. Height at withers and length from withers to pins were recorded at birth, weaning (5 wk), and at the end of the trial (8 wk). Fecal scores were recorded daily following the guidelines established by Larson et al. (9). Analyses were by the general linear model procedure of SAS76 (2). Sex, breed, date of birth, and birth weight were covariables. Least squares means for starter consumption and average daily gain were obtained for main and interaction effects. RESULTS
Flavor in milk replacer or flavor in starter did not influence number of days to first starter consumption. No flavor association of milk replacer-starter treatment combinations was found in days to first starter consumption. Overall mean + standard error of the mean for days from birth to measurable consumption of starter was 12.9 +- .6 days. No weekly differences in starter consumption or average daily gain (ADG) were found either by milk replacer or starter treatment or by any milk replacer-starter treatment combinations. Differences were in overall starter consumption and ADG to weaning (0 to 5 wk), after weaning (6 to 8 wk), and over the entire experiment (0 to 8 wk). Starter consumption by flavor in milk replacer and flavor in starter are in Table 2. Flavor in milk replacer had no effect on starter consumption. Flavor in starter did affect starter Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
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THOMSEN AND RINDSIG
TABLE 2. Least squares means (-+ SE) of starter consumption before and after weaning by milk replacer and by starter. Starter consumption (kg) Control
Butter
Milk arome
Maple
R
SE
R
SE
X
SE
X
SE
Milk replacer 0 - 5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0--8 weeks
12.8 34.8 47.8
1.1 1.6 2.5
10.1 33.8 44.0
1.2 1.7 2.8
12.6 37.7 50.4
1.3 1.9 3.0
11,2 31.7 42.7
1.2 1.7 2.7
Starter 0--5 weeks 6--8 weeks 0--8 weeks
10.0 32.1 41.2
1.1 1.5 2.5
11.6 34.6 46.2
1.2 1.7 2.7
12.5 35.2 47.7
1.2 1.7 2.8
12.6 36.2 48.8
1.3 1.8 a 2.8 a
aDifferent from control starter P < . I O .
were greater to w e a n i n g (P=.10). T h o s e o f f e r e d m i l k a r o m e s t a r t e r gained m o r e to w e a n i n g ( P = . l l ) a n d to 8 w k (P=.10). Average daily gain f o r calves fed m a p l e s t a r t e r were g r e a t e r b e f o r e w e a n i n g (P=-.03), a f t e r w e a n i n g (P=.06), a n d to 8 w k (P=-.02) t h a n for calves f e d t h e c o n t r o l starter. In all cases, g r o u p s o f calves o f f e r e d similarly flavored m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d s t a r t e r h a d h i g h e r m e a n w e i g h t gains (Table 5) t h a n t h o s e fed t h e c o n t r o l replacer a n d starter. However, these d i f f e r e n c e s were n o t significant (P<. 10). Height at w i t h e r s a n d l e n g t h f r o m withers t o pins were similar f o r all t r e a t m e n t s . Fecal scores r e a c h e d a m a x i m u m 8 to 11 days a f t e r b i r t h a n d were n o t a f f e c t e d b y t r e a t m e n t .
c o n s u m p t i o n . C o n s u m p t i o n o f milk a r o m e s t a r t e r was greater t h a n c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e c o n t r o l s t a r t e r t o weaning (P=.12) a n d to 8 w k (P=.12). Maple s t a r t e r i n t a k e was also g r e a t e r than that of the control after weaning (P<.10) a n d t o 8 wk (P=.09). No associative effects b e t w e e n the same flavor in m i l k replacer a n d s t a r t e r were f o u n d relative t o s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n (Table 3). Flavor in milk replacer h a d n o e f f e c t o n A D G (Table 4). This was e x p e c t e d because a m o u n t o f r e p l a c e r o f f e r e d was restricted a n d n o i n t a k e p r o b l e m s occurred. Weight gain o f calves fed t h e flavored s t a r t e r was g r e a t e r t h a n for t h o s e calves fed t h e u n f l a v o r e d s t a r t e r (Table 4). Gains for calves fed b u t t e r s t a r t e r
TABLE 3. Least squares means (-+ SE) of starter consumption before and after weaning by milk replacer and starter combinations involving the same flavor.
Starter consumption (kg) Treatment a
0--5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks
Control-control
10.4 34.8 45.2
Butter-butter
Milk arome-milk arome
Maple-maple
SE
.X
SE
.X
SE
X
SE
2.2 3.1 4.9
11.3 34.1 45.4
2.2 3.2 5.0
10.9 38.1 48.9
2.3 3.2 5.0
12.5 33.7 46.3
2.2 3.1 4.9
aDifferences were not significant, P<.05. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
FLAVORS IN CALF DIETS
1867
TABLE 4. Least squares means (± SE) for average daily gain (ADG) before and after weaning by milk replacer and by starter. ADG (g) Control
Milk replacer 0 - 5 weeks 6--8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks St~ter 0 - 5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0 - 8 weeks
Butter
Milk arorne
Maple
SE
X
SE
X
SE
X
SE
288 722 438
25 44 26
235 702 398
28 49 29
288 834 478
30 53 31
251 626
27 48 29
214 652 376
25 44 26
272 722 427
27 49 29
272 730 431
28 49 29 a
380 303 782 469
28 b 50 a 30 b
aDifferent from control starter, P<.10. bDifferent from control starter, P<.05.
DISCUSSION
calf s t a r t e r agrees w i t h results o f Morrill a n d D a y t o n (10). In o u r s t u d y less flavor and m o r e flavors were used. C a m p b e l l (4) f o u n d increased gains for w e a n e d pigs fed a s t a r t e r w i t h an a d d e d flavor c o m p o u n d t h a t also h a d b e e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e diet o f t h e sows t h e y h a d nursed. More r e c e n t l y , B e b i a k e t al. (3) cond u c t e d a similar e x p e r i m e n t w i t h pigs a n d r e p o r t e d n o associative e f f e c t a f t e r w e a n i n g w h e n a flavor c o m p o u n d was fed to l a c t a t i n g sows a n d t h e n i n c l u d e d in a s t a r t e r diet fed to t h e i r pigs. A d d i t i o n o f flavors to calf starters m a y increase s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d g r o w t h . No conclusive e v i d e n c e was f o u n d to i n d i c a t e an associative e f f e c t b e t w e e n flavor in milk r e p l a c e r a n d flavor in starter. This does n o t m e a n t h a t d i f f e r e n t flavors m a y n o t p r o v i d e d i f f e r e n t
P r e f e r e n c e b y calves for flavored s t a r t e r s has b e e n r e p o r t e d . Wing (12) s h o w e d t h a t y o u n g calves, p a r t i c u l a r l y b e t w e e n 31 a n d 6 0 days o f age, p r e f e r flavored feed r a t h e r t h a n u n f l a v o r e d . Atai a n d H a r s h b a r g e r (1) a d d e d molasses, dextrose, or sugar to calf starters. Increased s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d w e i g h t gains r e s u l t e d c o m p a r e d to feeding o f a c o n t r o l starter. Wallace a n d Riggs (11) f o u n d t h a t w e a n e d H e r e f o r d steers c o n s u m e d m o r e feed w h e n flavors were a d d e d . Increased s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n a n d w e i g h t gain has b e e n r e p o r t e d b y Morrill a n d D a y t o n (10) w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f a c o m m e r c i a l feed flavor to a calf starter. Lack o f conclusive e v i d e n c e in o u r s t u d y f o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f an associative e f f e c t b e t w e e n flavored m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d a similarly flavored
TABLE 5. Least squares means (-+ SE) for average daily gain before and after weaning by milk replacer and starter combinations involving the same flavor. Average daily gain (g) Treatment a
0--5 weeks 6 - 8 weeks 0--8 weeks
Control-control
Butter-butter
Milk arome-milk arome
Maple-maple
SE
X
SE
X
SE
X,
SE
238
49
274
746
87
719
415
52
428
50 89 53
271 873 482
51 89 53
266 730 427
49 87 52
aDifferences were not significant, P<.05. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
1868
THOMSEN AND RINDSIG
results. Studies c o n c e r n e d w i t h flavor associat i o n s also s h o u l d be offering calves a c h o i c e o f starter diets while being fed o n e o f t h e flavors in t h e i r liquid diet. O t h e r kinds and a m o u n t s o f flavors s h o u l d be e x a m i n e d . Flavor p r e f e r e n c e s and taste t h r e s h o l d s have n o t b e e n d e f i n e d well for calves. F u r t h e r research is n e e d e d . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A p p r e c i a t i o n is e x t e n d e d to C. S. Spitz, D. Griffith, M. Eade, M. K a h n , J. Naylor, and B. T h o m s e n for t h e i r help in various aspects o f this project. REFERENCES
1 Atai, S. R., and K. E. Harshbarger. 1965. Effect of substituting dry sugars for molasses in calf starters on feed intake and growth response. J. Dairy Sci. 48: 391. 2 Barr, A. J., J. H. Goodnight, J. P. Sail, and J. T. Helwig. 1976. A Users Guide to SAS76. SAS Institute, Inc., Raleigh, NC. 3 Bebiak, D. M., M. G. Hogberg, and E. R. Miller. 1978. Effectiveness of an aromatic supplement on starter diet consumption. Page 216 in Am. Soc. Anita. Sci., 1978 Meeting Abstr. (Abstr.) 4 Campbell, R. G. 1976. A note on the use of a feed
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 11, 1980
flavour to stimulate the feed intake of weaner pigs. Anim. Prod. 23:417. 5 Galef, E. G., Jr., and M. M. Clark. 1971. Social factors in thepison avoidance and feeding behavior of wild and domesticated rat pups. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 75: 341. 6 Galef, E. G., Jr., and M. M. Clark. 1972. Mother's milk and adult presence: Two factors determining initial dietary selection by weanling rats. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 78: 220. 7 Galef, E. G., Jr., and P. W. Henderson. 1972. Mother's milk: A determinant of the feeding preferences of weaning rat pups. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychnl. 78:213. 8 Galef, E. G., Jr., and D. F. Sherry. 1973. Mother's milk: A medium for the transmission of cues reflecting the flavor of the mother's diet. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 83: 374. 9 Larson, L. L., F. G. Owne, J. L. Albright, R. D. Appleman, and L. D. Muller. 1977. Guidelines toward more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data. J. Dairy Sci. 60:989. 10 Morrill, J. L., and A. D. Dayton. 1978. Effect of feed flavor in milk and calf starter on feed consumption and growth. J. Dairy Sci. 61: 229. 11 Wallace, J. D., and J. K. Riggs. 1967. Moisture, flavor, color and feed acceptability by cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 26:209. (Abstr.) 12 Wing, J. M. 1961. Preferences of calves for a concentrate feed with and without artificial flavor. J. Dairy Sci. 44:725.