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Performance of Calves Fed Colostrum Stored by Freezing, Fermentation, or Treatment with Lactic or Adipic Acid1,2
Performance of Calves Fed Colostrum Stored by Freezing, Fermentation, or Treatment with Lactic or Adipic Acid 1,2 JOHN A. F O L E Y 3 and D. E. O T T E R B Y Department of Animal Science University of Minnesota St. Paul 55108
adipic acid-treated colostrum gained less weight to weaning than calves fed frozen or fermented colostrums and consumed less starter from 4 to 28 days of age than calves fed fermented colostrum.
ABSTRACT
Holstein calves were allotted randomly at 4 days of age to one of three colostrum diets in two trials. Calves weighing 31.8 to 45.4 kg and over 45.4 kg at birth were offered 2.27 and 2.73 kg of colostrum daily, respectively, diluted with .91 kg of warm water. Calf starter and water were available ad libitum. Calves were weaned at 28 days of age and received only water and starter from 29 to 42 days of age. In trial 1, 31 calves were fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with 1% lactic acid. Colostrum refusals were minimal and preweaning calf health was excellent. Two calves died during the postweaning period. There were no differences in intakes of starter and crude protein or feed and crude protein efficiencies. Few differences in weekly average daily gains were detected, and gains for 0 to 4 wk and 4 to 6 wk were similar for all treatments. Calves fed colostrum stored by freezing consumed more dry matter from colostrum than calves fed fermented colostrum and more total dry matter than calves fed fermented or acidified colostrums from 4 to 28 days of age. In trial 2, 33 calves received colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with 1% adipic acid. Two calves were lost during the preweaning period. Adipic acid-treated colostrum was less acceptable to calves than frozen or fermented colostrums. Calves fed
INTRODUCTION
Methods for storage of surplus colostrum (first six postpartum milkings) have been reviewed (6). Storage by freezing has provided maximum retention of nutrients with virtually unlimited shelf life but also has required freezer space, extra handling, and daily thawing prior to feeding. A more convenient and economical means of colostrum storage has been achieved via fermentation at ambient temperatures. However, fermentation at warm temperatures sometimes has resulted in colostrum which is unacceptable to calves and must be discarded. Chemicals have been added to colostrum to prevent such spoilage. Storage of colostrum at ambient temperatures, with or without chemical additives, has resulted in changes in physical characteristics, unavoidable nutrient losses, and occasional problems of acceptability to calves. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing has been excellent. Generally, calves fed fermented or chemically preserved colostrum have made satisfactory gains.
Received July 24, 1978. 1Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 10,420, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul 55108. 2 Part of regional research project NC-119, Improving Large Dairy Herd Management Practices. Cargill Research Farm, Elk River, MN 55330. 1979 J Dairy Sci 62:459--467
Several studies have utilized additions of acid to colostrum stored at ambient temperatures (6). Formic, acetic, and propionic acids were added to colostrum in laboratory and feeding trials. Citric (3), hydrochloric (3), phosphoric (3), and lactic (3, 18) acids have been used in laboratory trials. Muller and Smallcomb (17), to avoid handling problems and corrosiveness of liquid chemical additives, added a variety of solid chemicals including benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium formate, sodium acetate, and sodium propionate to colostrum in laboratory trials. Potassium
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sorbate (.1% wt/vol) has been used as a mold inhibitor in laboratory and feeding trials (5). Adipic acid is another available solid, but its use in colostrum has not been reported in detail (6). Addition of 5 g of adipic acid to 4 liters of reconstituted skim milk containing 22% added fat decreased incidence of diarrhea in calves compared to a similar diet without adipic acid (27). Adipic acid-treated milk replacer did not reduce incidence of diarrhea among veal calves (11). The objective of two trials was to compare the performance of calves fed colostrum stored three ways: frozen, naturally fermented, and treated with either lactic or adipic acid. E X P E R I M E N T A L PROCEDURES Trial 1
Forty-three Holstein calves were assigned randomly, within sex, at 4 days of age to diets of frozen, fermented, or lactic acid-treated eolostrum from September 1974 through April 1975. Maintenance of a eolostrum supply sufficient to support calves in the three treatment groups was a. persistent problem during the trial. When colostrum was in short supply, calves which had been assigned most recently were dropped from the trial. As a result, only 31 of 43 calves originally assigned to treatment groups completed the preweaning feeding period. Equal numbers of male and female calves were fed frozen and fermented colostrum to weaning. Four male and five female calves received lactic acid-treated colostrum to weaning. Calves were allowed to nurse their dams for 12 to 60 h after birth before being moved to individual pens where they were hand-fed colostrum through 3 days of age. Beginning on day 4, calves were fed their respective experimental diets once daily in open buckets according to birthweight, 1) 31.8 to 45.4 kg: 2.27 kg colostrum, and 2) 45.4 kg and over: 2.73 kg colostrum. Colostrum diets were diluted with warm water (.91 kg) resulting in dilutions of 2.5:1 and 3:1. A coarsely ground, 15.4% crude protein calf starter (49% shelled corn, 34% oats, 15% soybean meal, 1% dicalcium phosphate, and 1% trace mineralized salt) and water were offered ad libitum from 4 to 42 days of age. All calves were weaned at 28 days Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
of age. At 42 days of age, calves were penned in groups and fed similar diets of grain and alfalfa hay. Calves were weighed within 24 h of birth, weekly from 7 to 42 days of age, and at 90 and 180 days of age. Colostrum refusals, starter intakes, and health problems were recorded. Health disorders and causes of death of calves were determined by veterinary diagnoses and postmortem examinations, respectively. Pens, consisting of steel mesh walls on concrete floors, were bedded with sawdust. Colostrum (first six postpartum milkings) was primarily that of Holstein cows, but colostrum of other breeds was used when available. Frozen colostrum was stored as individual milkings in 2- and 4-liter containers. Fermented and acid-treated colostrums were stored in covered, plastic-lined garbage cans, and colostrum from two or more cows was pooled if the cows calved within 3 days. Frozen colostrum also was thawed and used for fermented and acid-treated colostrum batches whenever necessary. Colostrum was acidified with lactic acid (1% vol/wt) before addition to pooled batches. Fermented and acidified colostrums were stirred at least once daily and immediately prior to feeding. Samples were taken from fermented and acidified colostrums 1 day after all individual additions to pooled batches were completed and again on the last day of feeding from batches. These two samples were pooled for chemical analyses. Average days from initial sampling to first and last feedings were 3.4 and 11.8, respectively, for fermented colostrum batches and 2.5 and 11.0, respectively, for lactic acid-treated batches. Colostrum samples were analyzed for total N, total solids, and total titratable acidity according to AOAC (1), fat by the Babcock method, nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)according to Rowland (25), and pH with an Orion Model 701A digital pH meter. Samples of calf starter were obtained from each batch prepared and were composited for crude protein (1) and dry matter determinations. Analysis of variance techniques were as described by Snedecor and Coehran (26). Trial 2
Thirty-three Holstein calves were assigned randomly within sex at 4 days of age to diets of
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES frozen, fermented, or adipic acid-treated c o l o s t r u m f r o m S e p t e m b e r 1975 through April 1976. Seven female and f o u r male calves were assigned to each treatment. Calves and colost r u m were managed in the same m a n n e r as in Trial 1 with few exceptions. The first seven p o s t p a r t u m milkings were collected to avoid supply p r o b l e m s e n c o u n t e r e d in Trial 1. Acidified c o l o s t r u m was treated with 1% ( w t / w t ) adipic acid. A c c u r a t e estimates of length of storage of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums were n o t available for Trial 2. Calf starter ingredients were the same as those in Trial 1, but crude protein c o n t e n t of starter in Trial 2 averaged 15.0%. RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION Trial 1
Chemical analyses of colostrums in Trial 1 are in Table 1. F r o z e n c o l o s t r u m f r o m individual milkings was n o t p o o l e d prior to storage or feeding. Therefore, values for frozen colost r u m were d e t e r m i n e d on samples f r o m colost r u m t h a w e d and pooled for f e r m e n t a t i o n . Each t h a w e d batch was a c o m p o s i t e of colost r u m f r o m three or f o u r cows. Total titratable
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acidity, pH, and NPN values for frozen colost r u m were similar to those reported by Carlson (2). Total solids (20), total N, and fat c o n t e n t s were higher than those r e p o r t e d f r o m feeding trials (2, 4, 7). O t h e r studies (8, 19) have shown that composited, u n f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m contained 17 to 18% total solids, 10 to 11 m g / m l of total N, and 4.8 to 5% fat. The pH o f f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m was higher than averages for o t h e r feeding trials (6) due, in part, to the compositing of an early sample with the final sample. The pH of lactic acidtreated c o l o s t r u m was similar to that r e p o r t e d in a l a b o r a t o r y trial (18) and lower ( P < . 0 0 1 ) than that of f e r m e n t e d colostrum. Total solids c o n t e n t s of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums were higher than those for s o m e feeding trials (6) but similar to those of o t h e r trials during cool m o n t h s of the year and with relatively short average storage periods (15, 23, 28). Total N, NPN, fat, and total titratable acidity values of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums fell within the range r e p o r t e d for colostrum feeding trials as reviewed by F o l e y and O t t e r b y (6). Lactic acid-treated colostrum had a higher ( P < . 0 0 1 ) total titratable acidity
TABLE 1. Composition of colostrum diets, a Trial 1c Item
Frozen b
Fermented
No. of batches pH Total solids (%) Total N (mg/ml) NPN (mg/ml) NPN (% of total N) Fat (%) Total titratable acidity (meq/ml)
3 6.36 18.81 9.77 .63 6.33 7.0 .03
15 4.93 i 16.19 9.36 .78 8.51 4.4 .10J
Trial 2 e Acidified d
Fermented
Acidif led f
10 4.30j 16.46 9.48 .71 7.47 4.2 .14 i
6 4.79 15.17 8.13 .90 11.13 3.9 .11 h
9 4.54 15.72 7.87
1.03 13.22 4.0 .19g
astatistical comparisons between fermented and acidified colostrums within trial. bcomposition values based on three batches of pooled frozen colostrum. CFirst six postpartum milkings. dColostrum acidified with 1% (vol/wt) lactic acid. eFirst seven postpartum milkings. fColostrum acidified with 1% (wt/wt) adipic acid. g'hMeans with different superscripts are different (P<.05). i'JMeans with different superscripts are different (P<.001). Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
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than fermented colostrum. However, titratable acidity values for lactic acid-treated colostrum were only .03 meq/ml higher than those due to initial lactic acid additions. This suggests that little acid production occurred during storage of lactic acid-treated colostrum. No other compositional differences between fermented and acidified colostrums were detected. Relatively short storage periods and cool storage temperatures may have prevented detection of any preservative advantages of lactic acid treatment. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves completing the preweaning period are summarized in Table 2. Two calves died from complications of pneumonia and severe diarrhea which developed 1 wk postweaning. Both calves were consuming approximately .45 kg of starter per day at weaning and .7 and 1.3 kg per day during the 1st wk postweaning. Therefore, stress of weaning did not appear to be an important factor in their deaths. However, both calves died during a period in which most of the health problems recorded occurred. Generally, calf health was excellent throughout the rest of the trial. Refusals of liquid diet were infrequent and of short duration. Approximately .1 meq of lactic acid, an essentially odorless compound,
is formed per ml of colostrum during natural fermentation of colostrum (19, 23). Volatile fatty acids also are formed during colostral fermentation (19, 23), but feeding of acetic (4, 23) and propionic (16, 24) acid-treated colostrums to calves has been associated with more significant refusals of liquid diet. Odor and taste of propionic acid-treated colostrum have been suggested as reasons for refusals of liquid diet by calves (24). It appears that colostrum batches in which lactic acid is the predominant acid are more acceptable to calves than those in which volatile fatty acids are in significant quantities. In a laboratory trial, however, propionic acid-treated colostrum maintained a more constant pH and odor than lactic acidtreated colostrum (18). Lactic acid-treated colostrum developed putrid odors after 14 to 16 days of storage at 39 C (18). Average daily gains and consumption of dry matter are in Table 3. Differences in weight gains occurred during the 2nd and 4th wk, but preweaning differences were not consistent, and average daily gains for the entire preweaning period did not differ (P>.05) with treatment. There were no postweaning differences in average daily gains. Other trials (4, 16, 23, 24) also have shown similar weight gains to weaning for calves fed fermented and chemically-treated
TABLE 2. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing (FR), fermentation (FE), or treatment with lactic (LA) or adipic (AA) acid.
Item No. of calves 0 to 28 days (weaning) 0 to 42 days Preweaning deaths Postweaning deaths Health problemsa No. of calves affected Average days/calf (0 to 42 days)b Liquid refusal No. of calves refusing liquid Days of refusal/calfb Amount refused/calf/day (kg)e
FR
Trial 1 FE
LA
FR
Trial 2 FE
AA
10 10 0 0
12 11 0 1
9 8 0 1
11 11 0 0
11 11 0 0
11 11 2 0
2
4 .2
.9
.00
2 .3 .03
0 0
1 .8
3 .6
2
2
.2 <.01
aDiarrhea and respiratory disease. bBased on all calves receiving each treatment. C'dMeans in rows within trial with different superscripts are different (P<.05). eQuantitative refusal data were not available for Trial 2. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
1 .1
1 .2 d .1d . . . . . . . . .
4 1.4 4 1.2 c
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TABLE 3. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with lactic acid (Trial 1 ). Treatment e Item
Frozen
Initial weight (kg)
44.9
(10)
Fermented
Acidified
43.4
42.3
(12)
SE (9)
1.08
-.35 .38 a .37 .41 bcd .20 .36 .46 ~40 .27 .44 .58
(9) (9) (9) (9) (9) (9) (8) (8) (8) (7) (4)
.07 .04 .04 .03 .02 .05 .05 .04 .02 .01 .02
Average daily gain (kg/day) Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 0 to 4 wk Wk 5 Wk 6 4 to 6 wk 0 to 6 wk 0 to 90 days 0 to 180 days
-.23 .13 b .44 .59 ac .23 .35 .51 .43 .30 .45 .55
(10) (10) (10) (10) (t0) (10) (10) (10) (10) (7) (5)
Colnstrum intake (kg DMtday) 4 to 28 days
.47 c
(10)
.40 d
(12)
.45 cd
(9)
,01
.09 .32 .22 .49
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.08 .26 .18 .88 .43
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.10 .27 .19 .79 .40
(9) (9) (9) (8) (8)
.01 .02 .02 .05 .03
.56 a .79 a .69 a .96 .79
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.47 b .67 ab .58 b .88
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.49 ab .66 b .59 b .79 .66
(9) (9) (9) (8) (8)
.00 .03 .00 .05 .03
Starter intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days Total intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.96
-.29 (12) .16 (12) .43 (12) .40 bd (12) .18 (12) .38 (12) .56 (11) .48 (11) .28 (11) .47 (9) .57 (6)
.69
a'bMeans in rows with different superscripts are different (P<.05). C'dMeans in rows with different superscripts are different (P<.O1). e
Numbers in parentheses indicate number of calves represented by means.
c o l o s t r u m s . Polzin et al. (23) r e p o r t e d t h a t calves fed f o r m i c a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m gained significantly faster to w e a n i n g t h a n calves fed f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m . Kaiser (9) f o u n d t h a t calves fed f o r m a l i n - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m gained significantly less w e i g h t to w e a n i n g t h a n calves fed fresh c o l o s t r u m . However, f o r m a l i n - t r e a t e d b a t c h e s o f c o l o s t r u m were p r e p a r e d f r o m b l o o d y c o l o s t r u m and s t o r e d at w a r m t e m p e r a tures. Variable d i f f e r e n c e s in weight gains b e t w e e n calves fed f r o z e n and f e r m e n t e d
c o l o s t r u m (10, 13, 22) m a y be related t o t e m p e r a t u r e and length o f storage o f f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m (10, 14). S t a r t e r intakes did n o t differ ( P > . 0 5 ) with t r e a t m e n t , b u t calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d by f r e e z i n g t e n d e d to c o n s u m e m o r e s t a r t e r t h a n calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d at a m b i e n t t e m p e r a tures. Calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d by freezing c o n s u m e d m o r e dry m a t t e r f r o m c o l o s t r u m ( P < . 0 1 ) t h a n calves fed f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m due to t h e higher total solids c o n t e n t o f f r o z e n Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
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colostrum and liquid refusals by calves fed fermented colostrum. Calves fed colostrum preserved by freezing generally had significantly higher intakes of total dry matter to weaning than calves fed fermented or acidified colostrums. Morrill et al. (13) reported that calves fed fermented colostrum consumed more starter than calves fed colostrum stored by freezing. Some studies (4, 16, 24) have shown depressed intakes of starter when refusals of liquid diet were considerable. Other studies (6) have shown that calves tend to consume increasing amounts of dry matter from starter with decreasing intakes of dry matter from liquid diet. Feed efficiency, intake of crude protein, and crude protein efficiency data are in Table 4. Feed efficiencies were extremely variable. Others (6) also have shown a wide range of feed efficiencies for colostrum-fed calves. Intakes and efficiencies of crude protein did not differ (P>.05) with treatment. Trial 2
Pooled samples of frozen colostrum were not obtained in Trial 2 because it was not
necessary to thaw and pool frozen colostrum for fermentation. Therefore, composition of frozen colostrum in Trial 2 is not presented. Chemical analyses of fermented and adipic acid-treated colostrums are in Table 1. Decreased total solids, total N, and fat contents, compared to Trial 1 colostrums, reflect use of the first seven postpartum milkings in Trial 2. Adipic acid-treated colostrum had a more uniform consistency than naturally fermented colostrum with smaller particle size and less separation of whey. Once again, acidified colostrum had a higher (P<.05) total titratable acidity than naturally fermented colostrum, presumably due to addition of acid. Adipic acid-treated colostrum also contained more NPN than naturally fermented colostrum. Adipic acid apparently enhanced fermentative breakdown of colostral protein. Otterby and Murphy (21) have shown an increase in ammonia-N concentration in ensiled high moisture corn treated with 1% adipic acid compared to an untreated control. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves are in Table 2. Two calves on the adipic acidtreated colostrum diet contracted pneumonia
TABLE 4. Feed efficiency, crude protein intake, and crude protein efficiency of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with lactic acid (Trial 1). Treatmenta Fermented
Item
Frozen
Feed efficiency (kg DM intake/kg gain) 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
2.54 3.02 2.45
(10) (10) (10)
3.66 2.06 2.65
(12) (11) (11)
3.02 1.87 2.13
(9) (9) (8)
.52 .24 .15
Total crude protein intake (kg/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.04 .09 .07 .16 .10
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.04 .07 .05 .15 .09
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.04 .07 .06 .13 .08
(9) (9) (9) (8) (9)
.00 .00 .00 .01 .00
Crude protein efficiency (kg CP intake/kg gain) 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.24 .50 .32
(10) (10) (10)
.31 .36 .30
(12) (11) (11)
.28 .35 .28
(9) (8) (8)
.04 .04 .01
a
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of calves represented by means.
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
Acidified
SE
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES a n d died d u r i n g t h e p r e w e a n i n g period. T h e s e calves were replaced b e c a u s e t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e i r r e m o v a l f r o m t h e trial was c o n s i d e r e d a n o n t r e a t m e n t effect. Calf h e a l t h was generally g o o d t h r o u g h o u t t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e trial. A d d i t i o n s o f adipic acid t o c o l o s t r u m did not reduce incidence of diarrhea compared to t h e o t h e r t r e a t m e n t s . This s u p p o r t s t h e f i n d i n g s o f M c C o y et al. (11) w i t h m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d c o n t r a s t s t h e findings of Steger a n d P i a t k o w s k i (27) w i t h r e c o n s t i t u t e d s k i m milk. Days o f refusals o f c o l o s t r u m b y calves were r e c o r d e d , b u t a m o u n t s o f refusal were n o t q u a n t i f i e d . Days o f c o l o s t r u m refusal p e r calf were h i g h e r ( P < . 0 5 ) a m o n g calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m t h a n a m o n g calves f e d c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d b y freezing or f e r m e n t a tion. No u n u s u a l o d o r s were associated w i t h adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m , b u t a i r b o r n e adipic acid d u s t elicited sneezing in t h e p e r s o n i n c o r p o r a t i n g acid i n t o b a t c h e s o f c o l o s t r u m .
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Muller e t al. (16) suggested t h a t relatively high NPN c o n t e n t s m a y b e associated w i t h refusal o f c o l o s t r u m b y calves. T h e r e f o r e , refusal o f adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m m a y have b e e n r e l a t e d to N P N c o n t e n t , m e m b r a n e i r r i t a t i o n , taste, or a c o m b i n a t i o n of t h e s e factors. Average daily gains a n d s t a r t e r i n t a k e s o f calves in Trial 2 are s u m m a r i z e d in T a b l e 5. Calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m g a i n e d w e i g h t at a r e d u c e d rate ( P < . 0 1 ) d u r i n g t h e p r e w e a n i n g p e r i o d c o m p a r e d t o calves f e d f r o z e n or acidified c o l o s t r u m s . D u r i n g t h e 1st w k p o s t w e a n i n g , calves w h i c h h a d b e e n fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m lost weight. Decreased w e i g h t . g a i n s o f calves fed c o l o s t r u m t r e a t e d w i t h adipic acid were r e l a t e d t o reduced colostrum consumption and lower (P<.05) consumption of starter throughout the first 6 w k o f life in c o m p a r i s o n t o calves o n t h e o t h e r t w o t r e a t m e n t s . Morrill a n d D a y t o n (12) r e p o r t e d t h a t calves c o n s u m e d m o r e s t a r t e r if
TABLE 5. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with adipic acid (Trial 2). Treatment Item
Frozen
Fermented
Acidified
SE
No. of calves Initial weight (kg) Average daily gain (kg/day) Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 0 to 4 wk Wk 5 Wk 6 4 to 6 wk 0 to 6 wk 0 to 90 days 0 to 180 days Starter intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
11 38.47
11 40.37
11 40.53
.97
-.02 .08 .25 c .59 .25 c .18 bcd .33 .25 .24 a .43 (6) e .51 (5)
-.11 .22 .35 c .45 .22 c .32 ac .37 .34 .26 a .50 (5) .60 (7)
.04 bd .23 bcd .15cd 1.00 a .46 a
.08 ac .27 ac .19 c 1.01 a .48 a
-.12 .02 .02 d .39 .08 d -.07 bd .56 .21 .12 b .36 (5) .58 (5)
.05 .06 .04 .06 .02 .06 .06 .04 .02 .02 .02
.05 bcd .14 bd .lOd .71 b .32 b
.01 .03 .02 .07 .04
ab ' Means m rows with different superscripts differ (P<.05). C'dMeans in rows with different superscripts differ (P<.01). eNumbers in parentheses indicate the number of calves represented by means for average daily gains beyond 42 days of age. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
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FOLEY AND OTTERBY
various flavoring agents were a d d e d a n d sugg e s t e d t h a t c o m b i n a t i o n s of flavors m a y b e associated w i t h c o n s u m p t i o n o f liquid a n d d r y feed. In several studies (4, 16, 2 4 ) c o l o s t r u m refusal has b e e n associated w i t h d e c r e a s e d i n t a k e o f starter. Perhaps various flavors associated w i t h a d d i t i o n o f bacterial c u l t u r e (4) or acid (16, 24) have d e c r e a s e d s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n b y association. CONCLUSIONS
F r o z e n , f e r m e n t e d , a n d lactic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m s p r o v i d e d liquid diets for calves w h i c h were well a c c e p t e d a n d s u p p o r t e d s a t i s f a c t o r y g r o w t h a n d health. Lactic acid (1% v o l / w t ) e x e r t e d n o a p p a r e n t effects o n colost r u m intake. T h e effectiveness o f lactic acid as a c o l o s t r u m preservative requires f u r t h e r investigation, p a r t i c u l a r l y at w a r m t e m p e r a tures, b e f o r e general r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for use o f lactic acid can b e established. Calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m refused liquid diet m o r e f r e q u e n t l y , c o n s u m e d less calf starter, a n d grew m o r e slowly t h a n calves f e d c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d b y freezing or f e r m e n t a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , a d d i t i o n o f 1% adipic acid t o c o l o s t r u m for calf diets is n o t r e c o m m e n d e d . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e e x t r a cost a n d l a b o r r e q u i r e d f o r a d d i t i o n of chemicals to colostrum may be unwarranted w h e n cool a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e storage is available. Trials r e p o r t e d here a n d o t h e r s (4, 16, 23, 24) have i n d i c a t e d n o s u b s t a n t i a l advantages in calf p e r f o r m a n c e w h e n c o l o s t r u m is c h e m i c a l l y - t r e a t e d r a t h e r t h a n n a t u r a l l y ferm e n t e d . C h e m i c a l t r e a t m e n t of c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d at a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e s a p p e a r s t o b e m o s t i m p o r t a n t in p r e v e n t i o n o f t h e n e e d t o discard u n a c c e p t a b l e b a t c h e s of c o l o s t r u m f e r m e n t e d at w a r m a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e s (9, 16, 24). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
S. A. Nelson a n d his s t a f f are t h a n k e d f o r care a n d f e e d i n g o f t h e calves. REFERENCES
1 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 1970. Official methods of analysis, l l t h ed. Washington, DC. 2 Carlson, S. M. A. 1976. Compositional and metabolic evaluation of colostrurn preserved by four methods during warm ambient temperatures. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
3 Collins, J. A., and T. E. Patrick. 1975. The effect of lactic acid bacteria and direct addition of acids on the microflora of colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 58:788. (Abstr.) 4 Daniels, L. B., J. R. Hall, Q. R. Hornsby, and J. A. Collins. 1977. Feeding naturally fermented, cultured, and direct acidified colostrum to dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 60:992. 5 Drevjany, L. A., O. R. Irvine, and G. S. Hooper. 1975. Attempt to improve storage life, palatability, uniformity and nutritive value of fermented colostrum and its utilization in raising replacement calves. Paper presented at the Annu. Meeting Eastern Branch Can. Soc. Anita. Sci., Kemptville, Ontario, May 25-27, 1975. 6 Foley, J. A., and D. E. Otterby. 1978. Availability, storage, treatment, composition, and feeding value of surplus colostrum: A review. J. Dairy Sci. 61:1033. 7 Gaunya, W. S., R. D. Mochrie, H. D. Eaton, and R. E. Johnson. 1954. Colostrum as a substitute for whole milk in a limited whole milk feeding system. J. Dairy Sci. 37:655. (Abstr.) 8 Huber, J. T. 1974. Nutrient needs of the preruminant call Page 128 in Proc. 7th Annu. Cony. Amer. Ass. Bovine Pract. 9 Kaiser, A. G. 1977. The use of colostrum preserved with formalin for rearing calves. Australian J. Exp. Agr. Anim. Husb. 17:221. 10 Kaiser, A. G. 1976. The growth of calves fed colostrum, sour colostrum, or whole milk once or twice daily. Australian Soc. Anita. Prod. 11:269. 11 McCoy, G. C., D. E. Otterby, and J. B. Williams. 1971. Additions of adipic acid or tributyrin or both to milk replacers for veal calves. J. Dairy Sci. 54:803. (Abstr.) 12 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. 13 Morrill, J. U, R. Mickelsen, and A. D. Dayton. 1974. Sour colostrum, cultured milk, and antibiotic for young calves. J. Dairy Sci. 57:643. (Abstr.) 14 Muller, U D. 1975. New developments in calf nutrition and management. Dairy Sci. Handbook 8:220. 15 Muller, L. D., G. L. Beardsley, and F. C. Ludens. 1975. Amounts of sour colostrum for growth and health of calves. J. Dairy Sci. 58:1360. 16 Muller, L. D., F. C. Ludens, and J. A. Rook. 1976. Performance of calves fed fermented colostrum or colostrum with additives during warm ambient temperatures. J. Dairy Sci. 59:930. 17 Muller, L. D., and J. Smallcomb. 1977. Laboratory evaluation of several chemicals for preservation of excess colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 60:627. 18 Muller, L. D., and D. R. Syhre. 1975. Influence of chemicals and bacterial cultures on preservation of cotostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 58:957. 19 Otterby, D. E., R. E. Dutton, and J. A. Foley. 1977. Comparative fermentations of bovine colostral milk. J. Dairy Sci. 60:73. 20 Otterby, D. E., D. G. Johnson, and H. W. Polzin. 1976. Fermented colostrum or milk replacer for growing calves. J. Dairy Sci. 59:2001.
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES 21 Otterby, D. E., and J. M. Murphy. 1971. Acid and urea additions to high moisture shelled corn at ensiling. J. Dairy Sci. 54:771. (Abstr.) 22 Plog, J., J. T. Huber, and W. Oxender. 1974. Growth, diarrhea, and gamma globulin of' calves fed frozen and fermented colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 57:642. (Abstr.) 23 Polzin, H. W., D. E. Otterby, and D. G. Johnson. 1977. Responses of calves fed fermented or acidified colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 60:224. 24 Rindsig, R. B., and G. W. Bodoh. 1977. Growth o f calves fed colostrum naturally fermented, or preserved with propionic acid or formaldehyde. J.
467
Dairy Sci. 60:79. 25 Rowland, S. J. 1938. The determination o f the nitrogen distribution in milk. J. Dairy Res. 9:42. 26 Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran. 1967. Statistical methods. 6th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 27 Steger, H., and B. Piatkowski. 1967. Feeding of acidified dried skim-milk with added fat to young calves. Mh. Vet. Med. 22:481 (cited in Dairy Sci. Abstr. 30:270, 1968). 28 Vu, Y., J. B. Stone, and M. R. Wilson. 1976. Fermented bovine colostrum for Holstein replacement calf rearing. J. Dairy Sci. 59:936.
Journal o f Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
adipic acid-treated colostrum gained less weight to weaning than calves fed frozen or fermented colostrums and consumed less starter from 4 to 28 days of age than calves fed fermented colostrum.
ABSTRACT
Holstein calves were allotted randomly at 4 days of age to one of three colostrum diets in two trials. Calves weighing 31.8 to 45.4 kg and over 45.4 kg at birth were offered 2.27 and 2.73 kg of colostrum daily, respectively, diluted with .91 kg of warm water. Calf starter and water were available ad libitum. Calves were weaned at 28 days of age and received only water and starter from 29 to 42 days of age. In trial 1, 31 calves were fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with 1% lactic acid. Colostrum refusals were minimal and preweaning calf health was excellent. Two calves died during the postweaning period. There were no differences in intakes of starter and crude protein or feed and crude protein efficiencies. Few differences in weekly average daily gains were detected, and gains for 0 to 4 wk and 4 to 6 wk were similar for all treatments. Calves fed colostrum stored by freezing consumed more dry matter from colostrum than calves fed fermented colostrum and more total dry matter than calves fed fermented or acidified colostrums from 4 to 28 days of age. In trial 2, 33 calves received colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with 1% adipic acid. Two calves were lost during the preweaning period. Adipic acid-treated colostrum was less acceptable to calves than frozen or fermented colostrums. Calves fed
INTRODUCTION
Methods for storage of surplus colostrum (first six postpartum milkings) have been reviewed (6). Storage by freezing has provided maximum retention of nutrients with virtually unlimited shelf life but also has required freezer space, extra handling, and daily thawing prior to feeding. A more convenient and economical means of colostrum storage has been achieved via fermentation at ambient temperatures. However, fermentation at warm temperatures sometimes has resulted in colostrum which is unacceptable to calves and must be discarded. Chemicals have been added to colostrum to prevent such spoilage. Storage of colostrum at ambient temperatures, with or without chemical additives, has resulted in changes in physical characteristics, unavoidable nutrient losses, and occasional problems of acceptability to calves. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing has been excellent. Generally, calves fed fermented or chemically preserved colostrum have made satisfactory gains.
Received July 24, 1978. 1Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 10,420, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul 55108. 2 Part of regional research project NC-119, Improving Large Dairy Herd Management Practices. Cargill Research Farm, Elk River, MN 55330. 1979 J Dairy Sci 62:459--467
Several studies have utilized additions of acid to colostrum stored at ambient temperatures (6). Formic, acetic, and propionic acids were added to colostrum in laboratory and feeding trials. Citric (3), hydrochloric (3), phosphoric (3), and lactic (3, 18) acids have been used in laboratory trials. Muller and Smallcomb (17), to avoid handling problems and corrosiveness of liquid chemical additives, added a variety of solid chemicals including benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium formate, sodium acetate, and sodium propionate to colostrum in laboratory trials. Potassium
459
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FOLEY AND OTTERBY
sorbate (.1% wt/vol) has been used as a mold inhibitor in laboratory and feeding trials (5). Adipic acid is another available solid, but its use in colostrum has not been reported in detail (6). Addition of 5 g of adipic acid to 4 liters of reconstituted skim milk containing 22% added fat decreased incidence of diarrhea in calves compared to a similar diet without adipic acid (27). Adipic acid-treated milk replacer did not reduce incidence of diarrhea among veal calves (11). The objective of two trials was to compare the performance of calves fed colostrum stored three ways: frozen, naturally fermented, and treated with either lactic or adipic acid. E X P E R I M E N T A L PROCEDURES Trial 1
Forty-three Holstein calves were assigned randomly, within sex, at 4 days of age to diets of frozen, fermented, or lactic acid-treated eolostrum from September 1974 through April 1975. Maintenance of a eolostrum supply sufficient to support calves in the three treatment groups was a. persistent problem during the trial. When colostrum was in short supply, calves which had been assigned most recently were dropped from the trial. As a result, only 31 of 43 calves originally assigned to treatment groups completed the preweaning feeding period. Equal numbers of male and female calves were fed frozen and fermented colostrum to weaning. Four male and five female calves received lactic acid-treated colostrum to weaning. Calves were allowed to nurse their dams for 12 to 60 h after birth before being moved to individual pens where they were hand-fed colostrum through 3 days of age. Beginning on day 4, calves were fed their respective experimental diets once daily in open buckets according to birthweight, 1) 31.8 to 45.4 kg: 2.27 kg colostrum, and 2) 45.4 kg and over: 2.73 kg colostrum. Colostrum diets were diluted with warm water (.91 kg) resulting in dilutions of 2.5:1 and 3:1. A coarsely ground, 15.4% crude protein calf starter (49% shelled corn, 34% oats, 15% soybean meal, 1% dicalcium phosphate, and 1% trace mineralized salt) and water were offered ad libitum from 4 to 42 days of age. All calves were weaned at 28 days Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
of age. At 42 days of age, calves were penned in groups and fed similar diets of grain and alfalfa hay. Calves were weighed within 24 h of birth, weekly from 7 to 42 days of age, and at 90 and 180 days of age. Colostrum refusals, starter intakes, and health problems were recorded. Health disorders and causes of death of calves were determined by veterinary diagnoses and postmortem examinations, respectively. Pens, consisting of steel mesh walls on concrete floors, were bedded with sawdust. Colostrum (first six postpartum milkings) was primarily that of Holstein cows, but colostrum of other breeds was used when available. Frozen colostrum was stored as individual milkings in 2- and 4-liter containers. Fermented and acid-treated colostrums were stored in covered, plastic-lined garbage cans, and colostrum from two or more cows was pooled if the cows calved within 3 days. Frozen colostrum also was thawed and used for fermented and acid-treated colostrum batches whenever necessary. Colostrum was acidified with lactic acid (1% vol/wt) before addition to pooled batches. Fermented and acidified colostrums were stirred at least once daily and immediately prior to feeding. Samples were taken from fermented and acidified colostrums 1 day after all individual additions to pooled batches were completed and again on the last day of feeding from batches. These two samples were pooled for chemical analyses. Average days from initial sampling to first and last feedings were 3.4 and 11.8, respectively, for fermented colostrum batches and 2.5 and 11.0, respectively, for lactic acid-treated batches. Colostrum samples were analyzed for total N, total solids, and total titratable acidity according to AOAC (1), fat by the Babcock method, nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)according to Rowland (25), and pH with an Orion Model 701A digital pH meter. Samples of calf starter were obtained from each batch prepared and were composited for crude protein (1) and dry matter determinations. Analysis of variance techniques were as described by Snedecor and Coehran (26). Trial 2
Thirty-three Holstein calves were assigned randomly within sex at 4 days of age to diets of
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES frozen, fermented, or adipic acid-treated c o l o s t r u m f r o m S e p t e m b e r 1975 through April 1976. Seven female and f o u r male calves were assigned to each treatment. Calves and colost r u m were managed in the same m a n n e r as in Trial 1 with few exceptions. The first seven p o s t p a r t u m milkings were collected to avoid supply p r o b l e m s e n c o u n t e r e d in Trial 1. Acidified c o l o s t r u m was treated with 1% ( w t / w t ) adipic acid. A c c u r a t e estimates of length of storage of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums were n o t available for Trial 2. Calf starter ingredients were the same as those in Trial 1, but crude protein c o n t e n t of starter in Trial 2 averaged 15.0%. RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION Trial 1
Chemical analyses of colostrums in Trial 1 are in Table 1. F r o z e n c o l o s t r u m f r o m individual milkings was n o t p o o l e d prior to storage or feeding. Therefore, values for frozen colost r u m were d e t e r m i n e d on samples f r o m colost r u m t h a w e d and pooled for f e r m e n t a t i o n . Each t h a w e d batch was a c o m p o s i t e of colost r u m f r o m three or f o u r cows. Total titratable
461
acidity, pH, and NPN values for frozen colost r u m were similar to those reported by Carlson (2). Total solids (20), total N, and fat c o n t e n t s were higher than those r e p o r t e d f r o m feeding trials (2, 4, 7). O t h e r studies (8, 19) have shown that composited, u n f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m contained 17 to 18% total solids, 10 to 11 m g / m l of total N, and 4.8 to 5% fat. The pH o f f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m was higher than averages for o t h e r feeding trials (6) due, in part, to the compositing of an early sample with the final sample. The pH of lactic acidtreated c o l o s t r u m was similar to that r e p o r t e d in a l a b o r a t o r y trial (18) and lower ( P < . 0 0 1 ) than that of f e r m e n t e d colostrum. Total solids c o n t e n t s of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums were higher than those for s o m e feeding trials (6) but similar to those of o t h e r trials during cool m o n t h s of the year and with relatively short average storage periods (15, 23, 28). Total N, NPN, fat, and total titratable acidity values of f e r m e n t e d and acidified colostrums fell within the range r e p o r t e d for colostrum feeding trials as reviewed by F o l e y and O t t e r b y (6). Lactic acid-treated colostrum had a higher ( P < . 0 0 1 ) total titratable acidity
TABLE 1. Composition of colostrum diets, a Trial 1c Item
Frozen b
Fermented
No. of batches pH Total solids (%) Total N (mg/ml) NPN (mg/ml) NPN (% of total N) Fat (%) Total titratable acidity (meq/ml)
3 6.36 18.81 9.77 .63 6.33 7.0 .03
15 4.93 i 16.19 9.36 .78 8.51 4.4 .10J
Trial 2 e Acidified d
Fermented
Acidif led f
10 4.30j 16.46 9.48 .71 7.47 4.2 .14 i
6 4.79 15.17 8.13 .90 11.13 3.9 .11 h
9 4.54 15.72 7.87
1.03 13.22 4.0 .19g
astatistical comparisons between fermented and acidified colostrums within trial. bcomposition values based on three batches of pooled frozen colostrum. CFirst six postpartum milkings. dColostrum acidified with 1% (vol/wt) lactic acid. eFirst seven postpartum milkings. fColostrum acidified with 1% (wt/wt) adipic acid. g'hMeans with different superscripts are different (P<.05). i'JMeans with different superscripts are different (P<.001). Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
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than fermented colostrum. However, titratable acidity values for lactic acid-treated colostrum were only .03 meq/ml higher than those due to initial lactic acid additions. This suggests that little acid production occurred during storage of lactic acid-treated colostrum. No other compositional differences between fermented and acidified colostrums were detected. Relatively short storage periods and cool storage temperatures may have prevented detection of any preservative advantages of lactic acid treatment. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves completing the preweaning period are summarized in Table 2. Two calves died from complications of pneumonia and severe diarrhea which developed 1 wk postweaning. Both calves were consuming approximately .45 kg of starter per day at weaning and .7 and 1.3 kg per day during the 1st wk postweaning. Therefore, stress of weaning did not appear to be an important factor in their deaths. However, both calves died during a period in which most of the health problems recorded occurred. Generally, calf health was excellent throughout the rest of the trial. Refusals of liquid diet were infrequent and of short duration. Approximately .1 meq of lactic acid, an essentially odorless compound,
is formed per ml of colostrum during natural fermentation of colostrum (19, 23). Volatile fatty acids also are formed during colostral fermentation (19, 23), but feeding of acetic (4, 23) and propionic (16, 24) acid-treated colostrums to calves has been associated with more significant refusals of liquid diet. Odor and taste of propionic acid-treated colostrum have been suggested as reasons for refusals of liquid diet by calves (24). It appears that colostrum batches in which lactic acid is the predominant acid are more acceptable to calves than those in which volatile fatty acids are in significant quantities. In a laboratory trial, however, propionic acid-treated colostrum maintained a more constant pH and odor than lactic acidtreated colostrum (18). Lactic acid-treated colostrum developed putrid odors after 14 to 16 days of storage at 39 C (18). Average daily gains and consumption of dry matter are in Table 3. Differences in weight gains occurred during the 2nd and 4th wk, but preweaning differences were not consistent, and average daily gains for the entire preweaning period did not differ (P>.05) with treatment. There were no postweaning differences in average daily gains. Other trials (4, 16, 23, 24) also have shown similar weight gains to weaning for calves fed fermented and chemically-treated
TABLE 2. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing (FR), fermentation (FE), or treatment with lactic (LA) or adipic (AA) acid.
Item No. of calves 0 to 28 days (weaning) 0 to 42 days Preweaning deaths Postweaning deaths Health problemsa No. of calves affected Average days/calf (0 to 42 days)b Liquid refusal No. of calves refusing liquid Days of refusal/calfb Amount refused/calf/day (kg)e
FR
Trial 1 FE
LA
FR
Trial 2 FE
AA
10 10 0 0
12 11 0 1
9 8 0 1
11 11 0 0
11 11 0 0
11 11 2 0
2
4 .2
.9
.00
2 .3 .03
0 0
1 .8
3 .6
2
2
.2 <.01
aDiarrhea and respiratory disease. bBased on all calves receiving each treatment. C'dMeans in rows within trial with different superscripts are different (P<.05). eQuantitative refusal data were not available for Trial 2. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
1 .1
1 .2 d .1d . . . . . . . . .
4 1.4 4 1.2 c
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES
463
TABLE 3. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with lactic acid (Trial 1 ). Treatment e Item
Frozen
Initial weight (kg)
44.9
(10)
Fermented
Acidified
43.4
42.3
(12)
SE (9)
1.08
-.35 .38 a .37 .41 bcd .20 .36 .46 ~40 .27 .44 .58
(9) (9) (9) (9) (9) (9) (8) (8) (8) (7) (4)
.07 .04 .04 .03 .02 .05 .05 .04 .02 .01 .02
Average daily gain (kg/day) Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 0 to 4 wk Wk 5 Wk 6 4 to 6 wk 0 to 6 wk 0 to 90 days 0 to 180 days
-.23 .13 b .44 .59 ac .23 .35 .51 .43 .30 .45 .55
(10) (10) (10) (10) (t0) (10) (10) (10) (10) (7) (5)
Colnstrum intake (kg DMtday) 4 to 28 days
.47 c
(10)
.40 d
(12)
.45 cd
(9)
,01
.09 .32 .22 .49
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.08 .26 .18 .88 .43
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.10 .27 .19 .79 .40
(9) (9) (9) (8) (8)
.01 .02 .02 .05 .03
.56 a .79 a .69 a .96 .79
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.47 b .67 ab .58 b .88
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.49 ab .66 b .59 b .79 .66
(9) (9) (9) (8) (8)
.00 .03 .00 .05 .03
Starter intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days Total intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.96
-.29 (12) .16 (12) .43 (12) .40 bd (12) .18 (12) .38 (12) .56 (11) .48 (11) .28 (11) .47 (9) .57 (6)
.69
a'bMeans in rows with different superscripts are different (P<.05). C'dMeans in rows with different superscripts are different (P<.O1). e
Numbers in parentheses indicate number of calves represented by means.
c o l o s t r u m s . Polzin et al. (23) r e p o r t e d t h a t calves fed f o r m i c a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m gained significantly faster to w e a n i n g t h a n calves fed f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m . Kaiser (9) f o u n d t h a t calves fed f o r m a l i n - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m gained significantly less w e i g h t to w e a n i n g t h a n calves fed fresh c o l o s t r u m . However, f o r m a l i n - t r e a t e d b a t c h e s o f c o l o s t r u m were p r e p a r e d f r o m b l o o d y c o l o s t r u m and s t o r e d at w a r m t e m p e r a tures. Variable d i f f e r e n c e s in weight gains b e t w e e n calves fed f r o z e n and f e r m e n t e d
c o l o s t r u m (10, 13, 22) m a y be related t o t e m p e r a t u r e and length o f storage o f f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m (10, 14). S t a r t e r intakes did n o t differ ( P > . 0 5 ) with t r e a t m e n t , b u t calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d by f r e e z i n g t e n d e d to c o n s u m e m o r e s t a r t e r t h a n calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d at a m b i e n t t e m p e r a tures. Calves fed c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d by freezing c o n s u m e d m o r e dry m a t t e r f r o m c o l o s t r u m ( P < . 0 1 ) t h a n calves fed f e r m e n t e d c o l o s t r u m due to t h e higher total solids c o n t e n t o f f r o z e n Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
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colostrum and liquid refusals by calves fed fermented colostrum. Calves fed colostrum preserved by freezing generally had significantly higher intakes of total dry matter to weaning than calves fed fermented or acidified colostrums. Morrill et al. (13) reported that calves fed fermented colostrum consumed more starter than calves fed colostrum stored by freezing. Some studies (4, 16, 24) have shown depressed intakes of starter when refusals of liquid diet were considerable. Other studies (6) have shown that calves tend to consume increasing amounts of dry matter from starter with decreasing intakes of dry matter from liquid diet. Feed efficiency, intake of crude protein, and crude protein efficiency data are in Table 4. Feed efficiencies were extremely variable. Others (6) also have shown a wide range of feed efficiencies for colostrum-fed calves. Intakes and efficiencies of crude protein did not differ (P>.05) with treatment. Trial 2
Pooled samples of frozen colostrum were not obtained in Trial 2 because it was not
necessary to thaw and pool frozen colostrum for fermentation. Therefore, composition of frozen colostrum in Trial 2 is not presented. Chemical analyses of fermented and adipic acid-treated colostrums are in Table 1. Decreased total solids, total N, and fat contents, compared to Trial 1 colostrums, reflect use of the first seven postpartum milkings in Trial 2. Adipic acid-treated colostrum had a more uniform consistency than naturally fermented colostrum with smaller particle size and less separation of whey. Once again, acidified colostrum had a higher (P<.05) total titratable acidity than naturally fermented colostrum, presumably due to addition of acid. Adipic acid-treated colostrum also contained more NPN than naturally fermented colostrum. Adipic acid apparently enhanced fermentative breakdown of colostral protein. Otterby and Murphy (21) have shown an increase in ammonia-N concentration in ensiled high moisture corn treated with 1% adipic acid compared to an untreated control. Health and refusals of liquid diet of calves are in Table 2. Two calves on the adipic acidtreated colostrum diet contracted pneumonia
TABLE 4. Feed efficiency, crude protein intake, and crude protein efficiency of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with lactic acid (Trial 1). Treatmenta Fermented
Item
Frozen
Feed efficiency (kg DM intake/kg gain) 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
2.54 3.02 2.45
(10) (10) (10)
3.66 2.06 2.65
(12) (11) (11)
3.02 1.87 2.13
(9) (9) (8)
.52 .24 .15
Total crude protein intake (kg/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.04 .09 .07 .16 .10
(10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
.04 .07 .05 .15 .09
(12) (12) (12) (11) (11)
.04 .07 .06 .13 .08
(9) (9) (9) (8) (9)
.00 .00 .00 .01 .00
Crude protein efficiency (kg CP intake/kg gain) 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
.24 .50 .32
(10) (10) (10)
.31 .36 .30
(12) (11) (11)
.28 .35 .28
(9) (8) (8)
.04 .04 .01
a
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of calves represented by means.
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
Acidified
SE
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES a n d died d u r i n g t h e p r e w e a n i n g period. T h e s e calves were replaced b e c a u s e t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e i r r e m o v a l f r o m t h e trial was c o n s i d e r e d a n o n t r e a t m e n t effect. Calf h e a l t h was generally g o o d t h r o u g h o u t t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e trial. A d d i t i o n s o f adipic acid t o c o l o s t r u m did not reduce incidence of diarrhea compared to t h e o t h e r t r e a t m e n t s . This s u p p o r t s t h e f i n d i n g s o f M c C o y et al. (11) w i t h m i l k r e p l a c e r a n d c o n t r a s t s t h e findings of Steger a n d P i a t k o w s k i (27) w i t h r e c o n s t i t u t e d s k i m milk. Days o f refusals o f c o l o s t r u m b y calves were r e c o r d e d , b u t a m o u n t s o f refusal were n o t q u a n t i f i e d . Days o f c o l o s t r u m refusal p e r calf were h i g h e r ( P < . 0 5 ) a m o n g calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m t h a n a m o n g calves f e d c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d b y freezing or f e r m e n t a tion. No u n u s u a l o d o r s were associated w i t h adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m , b u t a i r b o r n e adipic acid d u s t elicited sneezing in t h e p e r s o n i n c o r p o r a t i n g acid i n t o b a t c h e s o f c o l o s t r u m .
465
Muller e t al. (16) suggested t h a t relatively high NPN c o n t e n t s m a y b e associated w i t h refusal o f c o l o s t r u m b y calves. T h e r e f o r e , refusal o f adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m m a y have b e e n r e l a t e d to N P N c o n t e n t , m e m b r a n e i r r i t a t i o n , taste, or a c o m b i n a t i o n of t h e s e factors. Average daily gains a n d s t a r t e r i n t a k e s o f calves in Trial 2 are s u m m a r i z e d in T a b l e 5. Calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m g a i n e d w e i g h t at a r e d u c e d rate ( P < . 0 1 ) d u r i n g t h e p r e w e a n i n g p e r i o d c o m p a r e d t o calves f e d f r o z e n or acidified c o l o s t r u m s . D u r i n g t h e 1st w k p o s t w e a n i n g , calves w h i c h h a d b e e n fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m lost weight. Decreased w e i g h t . g a i n s o f calves fed c o l o s t r u m t r e a t e d w i t h adipic acid were r e l a t e d t o reduced colostrum consumption and lower (P<.05) consumption of starter throughout the first 6 w k o f life in c o m p a r i s o n t o calves o n t h e o t h e r t w o t r e a t m e n t s . Morrill a n d D a y t o n (12) r e p o r t e d t h a t calves c o n s u m e d m o r e s t a r t e r if
TABLE 5. Performance of calves fed colostrum stored by freezing, fermentation, or treatment with adipic acid (Trial 2). Treatment Item
Frozen
Fermented
Acidified
SE
No. of calves Initial weight (kg) Average daily gain (kg/day) Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 0 to 4 wk Wk 5 Wk 6 4 to 6 wk 0 to 6 wk 0 to 90 days 0 to 180 days Starter intake (kg DM/day) 4 to 14 days 15 to 28 days 4 to 28 days 29 to 42 days 4 to 42 days
11 38.47
11 40.37
11 40.53
.97
-.02 .08 .25 c .59 .25 c .18 bcd .33 .25 .24 a .43 (6) e .51 (5)
-.11 .22 .35 c .45 .22 c .32 ac .37 .34 .26 a .50 (5) .60 (7)
.04 bd .23 bcd .15cd 1.00 a .46 a
.08 ac .27 ac .19 c 1.01 a .48 a
-.12 .02 .02 d .39 .08 d -.07 bd .56 .21 .12 b .36 (5) .58 (5)
.05 .06 .04 .06 .02 .06 .06 .04 .02 .02 .02
.05 bcd .14 bd .lOd .71 b .32 b
.01 .03 .02 .07 .04
ab ' Means m rows with different superscripts differ (P<.05). C'dMeans in rows with different superscripts differ (P<.01). eNumbers in parentheses indicate the number of calves represented by means for average daily gains beyond 42 days of age. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
466
FOLEY AND OTTERBY
various flavoring agents were a d d e d a n d sugg e s t e d t h a t c o m b i n a t i o n s of flavors m a y b e associated w i t h c o n s u m p t i o n o f liquid a n d d r y feed. In several studies (4, 16, 2 4 ) c o l o s t r u m refusal has b e e n associated w i t h d e c r e a s e d i n t a k e o f starter. Perhaps various flavors associated w i t h a d d i t i o n o f bacterial c u l t u r e (4) or acid (16, 24) have d e c r e a s e d s t a r t e r c o n s u m p t i o n b y association. CONCLUSIONS
F r o z e n , f e r m e n t e d , a n d lactic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m s p r o v i d e d liquid diets for calves w h i c h were well a c c e p t e d a n d s u p p o r t e d s a t i s f a c t o r y g r o w t h a n d health. Lactic acid (1% v o l / w t ) e x e r t e d n o a p p a r e n t effects o n colost r u m intake. T h e effectiveness o f lactic acid as a c o l o s t r u m preservative requires f u r t h e r investigation, p a r t i c u l a r l y at w a r m t e m p e r a tures, b e f o r e general r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for use o f lactic acid can b e established. Calves fed adipic a c i d - t r e a t e d c o l o s t r u m refused liquid diet m o r e f r e q u e n t l y , c o n s u m e d less calf starter, a n d grew m o r e slowly t h a n calves f e d c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d b y freezing or f e r m e n t a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , a d d i t i o n o f 1% adipic acid t o c o l o s t r u m for calf diets is n o t r e c o m m e n d e d . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e e x t r a cost a n d l a b o r r e q u i r e d f o r a d d i t i o n of chemicals to colostrum may be unwarranted w h e n cool a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e storage is available. Trials r e p o r t e d here a n d o t h e r s (4, 16, 23, 24) have i n d i c a t e d n o s u b s t a n t i a l advantages in calf p e r f o r m a n c e w h e n c o l o s t r u m is c h e m i c a l l y - t r e a t e d r a t h e r t h a n n a t u r a l l y ferm e n t e d . C h e m i c a l t r e a t m e n t of c o l o s t r u m s t o r e d at a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e s a p p e a r s t o b e m o s t i m p o r t a n t in p r e v e n t i o n o f t h e n e e d t o discard u n a c c e p t a b l e b a t c h e s of c o l o s t r u m f e r m e n t e d at w a r m a m b i e n t t e m p e r a t u r e s (9, 16, 24). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
S. A. Nelson a n d his s t a f f are t h a n k e d f o r care a n d f e e d i n g o f t h e calves. REFERENCES
1 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 1970. Official methods of analysis, l l t h ed. Washington, DC. 2 Carlson, S. M. A. 1976. Compositional and metabolic evaluation of colostrurn preserved by four methods during warm ambient temperatures. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979
3 Collins, J. A., and T. E. Patrick. 1975. The effect of lactic acid bacteria and direct addition of acids on the microflora of colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 58:788. (Abstr.) 4 Daniels, L. B., J. R. Hall, Q. R. Hornsby, and J. A. Collins. 1977. Feeding naturally fermented, cultured, and direct acidified colostrum to dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 60:992. 5 Drevjany, L. A., O. R. Irvine, and G. S. Hooper. 1975. Attempt to improve storage life, palatability, uniformity and nutritive value of fermented colostrum and its utilization in raising replacement calves. Paper presented at the Annu. Meeting Eastern Branch Can. Soc. Anita. Sci., Kemptville, Ontario, May 25-27, 1975. 6 Foley, J. A., and D. E. Otterby. 1978. Availability, storage, treatment, composition, and feeding value of surplus colostrum: A review. J. Dairy Sci. 61:1033. 7 Gaunya, W. S., R. D. Mochrie, H. D. Eaton, and R. E. Johnson. 1954. Colostrum as a substitute for whole milk in a limited whole milk feeding system. J. Dairy Sci. 37:655. (Abstr.) 8 Huber, J. T. 1974. Nutrient needs of the preruminant call Page 128 in Proc. 7th Annu. Cony. Amer. Ass. Bovine Pract. 9 Kaiser, A. G. 1977. The use of colostrum preserved with formalin for rearing calves. Australian J. Exp. Agr. Anim. Husb. 17:221. 10 Kaiser, A. G. 1976. The growth of calves fed colostrum, sour colostrum, or whole milk once or twice daily. Australian Soc. Anita. Prod. 11:269. 11 McCoy, G. C., D. E. Otterby, and J. B. Williams. 1971. Additions of adipic acid or tributyrin or both to milk replacers for veal calves. J. Dairy Sci. 54:803. (Abstr.) 12 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. 13 Morrill, J. U, R. Mickelsen, and A. D. Dayton. 1974. Sour colostrum, cultured milk, and antibiotic for young calves. J. Dairy Sci. 57:643. (Abstr.) 14 Muller, U D. 1975. New developments in calf nutrition and management. Dairy Sci. Handbook 8:220. 15 Muller, L. D., G. L. Beardsley, and F. C. Ludens. 1975. Amounts of sour colostrum for growth and health of calves. J. Dairy Sci. 58:1360. 16 Muller, L. D., F. C. Ludens, and J. A. Rook. 1976. Performance of calves fed fermented colostrum or colostrum with additives during warm ambient temperatures. J. Dairy Sci. 59:930. 17 Muller, L. D., and J. Smallcomb. 1977. Laboratory evaluation of several chemicals for preservation of excess colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 60:627. 18 Muller, L. D., and D. R. Syhre. 1975. Influence of chemicals and bacterial cultures on preservation of cotostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 58:957. 19 Otterby, D. E., R. E. Dutton, and J. A. Foley. 1977. Comparative fermentations of bovine colostral milk. J. Dairy Sci. 60:73. 20 Otterby, D. E., D. G. Johnson, and H. W. Polzin. 1976. Fermented colostrum or milk replacer for growing calves. J. Dairy Sci. 59:2001.
COLOSTRUM DIETS FOR CALVES 21 Otterby, D. E., and J. M. Murphy. 1971. Acid and urea additions to high moisture shelled corn at ensiling. J. Dairy Sci. 54:771. (Abstr.) 22 Plog, J., J. T. Huber, and W. Oxender. 1974. Growth, diarrhea, and gamma globulin of' calves fed frozen and fermented colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 57:642. (Abstr.) 23 Polzin, H. W., D. E. Otterby, and D. G. Johnson. 1977. Responses of calves fed fermented or acidified colostrum. J. Dairy Sci. 60:224. 24 Rindsig, R. B., and G. W. Bodoh. 1977. Growth o f calves fed colostrum naturally fermented, or preserved with propionic acid or formaldehyde. J.
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Dairy Sci. 60:79. 25 Rowland, S. J. 1938. The determination o f the nitrogen distribution in milk. J. Dairy Res. 9:42. 26 Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran. 1967. Statistical methods. 6th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 27 Steger, H., and B. Piatkowski. 1967. Feeding of acidified dried skim-milk with added fat to young calves. Mh. Vet. Med. 22:481 (cited in Dairy Sci. Abstr. 30:270, 1968). 28 Vu, Y., J. B. Stone, and M. R. Wilson. 1976. Fermented bovine colostrum for Holstein replacement calf rearing. J. Dairy Sci. 59:936.
Journal o f Dairy Science Vol. 62, No. 3, 1979