Protein for Calves on a Limited Milk-Early Weaning System1

Protein for Calves on a Limited Milk-Early Weaning System I R. W. W A L L E N I U S and F. R. M U R D O C K Department of Animal Sciences Washington State University Pullman 99164 and Western Washington Research and Extension Center Puyallup 98371

ABSTRACT

Complete pelleted calf starter rations were fed to Holstein heifer calves on a limited milk-early weaning program from 3 days to 12 wk of age. Five rations fed to each of 10 calves were to contain crude protein percentages of 10, 12.5, 12.5 with .7% urea, 15, and 15 with 1.1% urea (as fed). The digestible protein:digestible energy ratios (g digestible protein/Mcal digestible energy) of the rations (in same order) were 23.4, 30.7, 28.8, 36.4, and 41.5. Average birth weight was 42.9 kg and weaning weight at 4 wk, 52.8 kg. Treatment effects on feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were analyzed after adjustment of birth weight and removal of effects of block and location. Feed intake for 12 wk was greater for 15% crude protein with 1.1% urea than for either 12.5% ration but not different from 10% protein. Average daily gain was increased for both 15% protein rations compared to 10 or 12.5% protein. Gain by calves fed 10% protein was equal to that by those fed 12.5% protein. Feed efficiency during wk 5 to 12 was improved for 15% with vegetable protein compared to 10% crude protein or the 12.5% crude protein ration with vegetable protein. There were no differences in intake, gain, or efficiency between urea and vegetable protein. INTRODUCTION

Comparisons of calf starter rations containing about 12% crude protein (CP) with higher crude protein often have resulted in equal gains in body weight for calves of large breeds (4, 5, Received December 16, 1976. l Scientific Paper No. 4736. College of Agriculture Research Center, Washington State University, Pull-

man. Project 0254. 1977 J Dairy Sci 60:1422-1427

10, 14, 18, 20). In other comparisons gains have not been equal. Henschel and Radloff (7) reported gains of .59, .70, and .76 kg/day when starter pellets containing 12, 16, and 20% CP were fed to 56 days. Huber and Miller (8) found no advantage of 18.4% CP starters compared to 12.2% up to weaning, but after weaning average daily gain ( A D G ) w a s .51 kg/day versus .37 kg for the ration with lower protein. The ability of calves to respond as well on lower protein potentially is influenced by amount of milk fed, age and weight at weaning, age of calves during the experiment, ad-libitum versus restricted feeding, and environment. Energy intake and the relationship between energy and protein are important (2). Jacobson (9) summarized research on energy and protein requirements for nonruminant calves and estimated 47 kcal digestible energy (DE)/kg body weight (BW) for maintenance plus 3.3 to 3.8 kcal DE/g gain. He suggested .6 g digestible protein (DP)/kg BW for maintenance and .16 g/g gain (9). Jacobson suggested slightly higher values for ruminating calves. The tables of the National Research Council (NRC) requirements (15) approximate these values for energy but NRC DP requirements are about 150% of Jacobson's (9) values for calves weighing 55 and 75 kg. Nonprotein nitrogen has been used to replace vegetable protein in experiments with calves (12, 13, 19, 22). Leibholz (12) fed calf starters containing 12, 15, or 18% CP with urea supplying the higher CP equivalent. Increased crude protein as urea improved response. Stobo et al. (19) fed 12 or 20% CP starters and an 18% CP starter in which urea equaled 33% of the nitrogen of the ration. Calves receiving the 20% vegetable protein starter gained significantly more than those on other treatments. Calves have been reared successfully to 12 wk of age in a limited milk-early weaning system when complete pelleted calf starter rations containing 20% suncured alfalfa and 15

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PROTEIN AND ENERGY FOR CALVES to 16% CP (as-fed) were fed (21). Objectives o f our s t u d y were to evaluate r e s p o n s e o f calves to r a t i o n s o f 10, 12.5, and 15% c r u d e p r o t e i n , and to vegetable p r o t e i n and urea in r a t i o n s with 12.5 a n d 15% CP.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

T w e n t y - f i v e Holstein h e i f e r calves at each o f t w o l o c a t i o n s (Pullman and Puyallup, WA) were assigned r a n d o m l y f r o m blocks on birth date t o the five calf s t a r t e r r a t i o n s (Table 1). T h e rations were f o r m u l a t e d to c o n t a i n crude protein as fed o f 1) 10%, 2) 12.5%, 3) 12.5% w i t h .7% urea, 4) 15%, a n d 5) 15% with 1.1% urea. C o m p o s i t i o n is in Table 1. The range in % CP for t r e a t m e n t rations over the 1-yr e x p e r i m e n t were 1) 10.1 t o 10.6, 2) 11.9 to 13.7, 3) 11.4 to 13.3, 4) 14.0 to 15.3, and 5) 15.1 to 16.0. Urea p r o v i d e d 15.7 and 19.9% o f the ration N

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in t r e a t m e n t s 3 and 5. Calves were placed in individual p e n s at an average o f 3 days o f age. Pens at b o t h l o c a t i o n s were a b o u t 1.8 x 8.2 m and partly covered. Calves received 3.63 k g / d a y w h o l e milk to 21 days o f age and 1.82 kg f r o m 21 t o 28 days. Milk was fed twice daily and s u p p l e m e n t e d with 1600 IU vitamin A, 300 IU vitamin D, and 10 m g t e r r a m y c i n / d a y . Experim e n t a l pellets (die size 4.8 m m ) were available for a d - l i b i t u m c o n s u m p t i o n f r o m day 3. B o d y w e i g h t a n d feed intakes were r e c o r d e d w e e k l y t h r o u g h 84 days o f age. Digestion trials were w i t h 24 steer calves f r o m 6 t o 8 wk o f age. F e e d intake for t h e s e calves averaged 2.27 kg/day. Average weight was 68 kg. Feces were dried in a f o r c e d air oven at a b o u t 70 C. Analysis o f f e e d and feces are a c c o r d i n g t o A O A C p r o c e d u r e s (1). Energy values were d e t e r m i n e d b y c o m b u s t i o n in a Parr o x y g e n b o m b calorimeter.

TABLE 1. Ingredients, composition, and apparent digestion coefficients of rations. Treatment

1

Crude protein, %

10

Ingredientsa (%) Barley Corn Sun cured alfalfa Molasses Soybean meal Urea T.M. salt Bone meal

40.0 42.0 8.0 8.0 ... . . 1.0 .8

Composition Dry matter Crude protein b Fiber b Ashb Gross energy (kcal/g) b

91.0 11.4 6.7 5.2 4.23

Digestion coefficientsc (%) Dry matter Protein Fiber Ash Energy

69.5 58.9 24.0 60.1 68.0

Digestible energyb (kcal/g)

2.87

.

2

3

12.5

12.5 urea

4

5

15

15 urea

69.0 __. 20.0 8.0 1.0 . . 1.0 .8

40.0 39.3 10.0 8.0 ... 7 1.0 .8

60.7

68.9

20.0 8.0 9.3

20.0 8.0

90.9 14.3 9.3 6.9 4.38

90.1 13.9 6.6 5.7 4.26

91.1 16.0 9.4 6.9 4.39

90,4 17.2 10.7 6.8 4.21

71.4 66.1 25.0 62.1 70.4

76.8 66.2 22.6 66.6 74.9

74.2 71.6 35.8 63.6 71.9

72.8 72.3 37.7 55.6 71.2

3.08

.

.

3.19

1.0

1.1 1.0

.8

.8

3.15

2.99

aSupplemented with 2,500 IU vitamin A, 2,222 IU vitamin D, and 22 mg terramycin per kg. bDry matter basis. CAverage of 6 trials for treatments 2, 4, and 5, and 3 trials for treatments 1 and 3. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 60, No. 9, 1977

7~

e*

t~

TABLE 2. Body weight, average daily gain, feed, and feed efficiency a. <

Treatment

ox o

Crude protein, % Weight (kg) Birth 4 wk 8 wk 12 wk

1

2

3

4

5

10

12.5

12,5 urea

15

15 urea

44.6 52.8 67.1cd 86.5 c

43.3 53.3 66.1cd 86.7 c

43.8 51.8 64.3 d 87.1 c

41.0 52.1 69,7 c 96.0 b

41.7 53.8 74.8 b 99.1 b

SE

Z

.z -z

Average daily gains(kg) 4 wk 8 wk 12 wk Feed intake (kg) 4 wk 8 wk 12 wk Feed efficiency (kg feed/kg gain) 5 to 8 wk 5 to 12 wk

.36 .44 cd .52 c

.37 .42 c .52 c

.32 .39c .53 c

.33 .47 cd .63 b

.39 .56 b .67 b

.39 .76 1.17

.014 .014 .014

>

z > Z

~0

8.9 bc 55.0 bc 124.5 bc

3.25 bc 3.43 b

8.2 bcd 48.6 cd 115.8 c

3.29bc 3.28bc

5.9 d 43.6 d 112.8 c

3.08cd 3.05cd

6,9 cd 51,4 bcd 127,4 bc

2.55 d 2.76 d

aData adjusted for birth weight differences by covariance. All values except those for feed efficiency are from birth. b'c'dMeans in rows with unlike superscripts differ (P<.05).

9.7 b 60.0 b 142,9 b

2.39 d 2.94 cd

.40 1.56 2.95

.037 .026

O

PROTEIN AND ENERGY FOR CALVES Rumen fluid sampled from heifer calves by stomach tube at 5, 8, and 12 wk of age were to evaluate microbial function as evidenced by volatile fatty acids. Samples were treated with meta-phosphoric acid and stored ( - 2 0 C) until later centrifugation (17,000 × g, 15 min) and analysis with a neopentyl glycol adipate (NPGA) column in a Beckman GC-5 gas chromatograph, column temperature 90 C. Treatment effects were tested by analysis of variance and Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (17) after differences in birth weight were adjusted by covariance and variation attributed to block and location removed. RESULTS A N D DISCUSSION

Treatment effects on gains of body weight and feed intake were evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 wk. Feed efficiency was compared for wk 5 to 8 and 5 to 12, eliminating the milk feeding period from consideration (Table 2). Although there was no treatment effect on body weight or gain at 4 wk, as expected during milk feeding, calves consumed less of the 12.5% CP ration with urea and the 15% ration without urea than 15% with urea. At 8 wk calves had gained more rapidly on the 15% ration containing urea, and feed efficiency was greater for the 15% CP rations than for the 10% ration and 12.5% ration without urea. Calves ate less at the 12.5% ration with urea than the 10% or 15% with urea rations. Calves fed the 12.5% rations

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consumed the least digestible energy/day. For the entire 12 wk, calves fed either of the 15% CP rations gained more than those on other treatments. Intake was greater for the 15% ration with urea than for others. Feed efficiency was n o t significantly different for treatments 3, 4, and 5, but the average efficiency was 3.16 for rations 2 and 3 and 2.85 for rations 4 and 5. The 15% ration utilizing only vegetable protein gave an improved feed efficiency compared to 12.5% with vegetable protein. The rations containing 10% CP and 12.5% CP with urea contained smaller amounts of alfalfa. It is unlikely that the alfalfa had a detrimental influence on intake since Leibholz (11) has shown that addition of lucerne to calf starters did not inhibit intake until the roughage was above 40%. It is possible that feed efficiency values for those rations could be influenced by roughage al,though the effect of roughage on feed efficiency is more pronounced at higher roughage (11, 21). We suggest that the poor feed efficiency for the 10% CP ration was caused by low protein. If feed efficiency is correlated with roughage, we expect the efficiency value for the 12.5% CP ration with urea to be similar to the efficiency value for 12.5% CP with vegetable protein. The values are n o t significantly different and, therefore, do n o t influence interpretations. It appears that protein content should be higher than 12.5% when rations are fed to

TABLE 3. Average weight, daily feed intake, and intake of digestible energy (D.E.), and digestible protein (D.P.) for weeks 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Treatment Crude protein, %

1 10

2

3

12.5

12.5 urea

4

5

15

15 urea

Weeks 5 to 8 Average body wt (kg) Intake (kg/day) a D.E./day (Meal) D.P.Iday (g)

60.0 1.64 4.71 110

59.7 1.44 4.44 136

58.1 1.35 4.31 124

60.9 1.59 5.02 182

64.3 1.80 5.17 224

Weeks 9 to 12 Average body wt (kg) Intake (kg/day) a D.E./day (Mcal) D.P./day (g)

76.8 2.48 7.13 166

76.4 2.40 7.39 226

75.7 2.47 7.89 227

82.9 2.71 8.55 310

87.0 2.96 8.50 368

aAs fed. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 60, No. 9, 1977

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WALLEN1US AND MURDOCK

early-weaned calves. The benefit of higher protein was most pronounced in wk 5 to 8. The ADG for calves on 15% CP rations during that period averaged .22 kg/day more than for calves on 10 and 12.5% CP. The difference decreased to .16 kg/day in wk 9 to 12. Digestion trials determined digestion coefficients of test rations in animals of similar age and rearing conditions. Results are in Table 1. Digestibility of fiber ranged from 4 to 65%. The digestible protein:digestible energy ratios (g DP/Mcal DE) for the five treatments were 23.4, 30.7, 28.8, 36.4, and 41.5. Gardner and Akbar (6) found that a ratio of 29.5 gave improved growth compared with 26.5 when complete pelleted rations were fed to calves from 59 to 100 kg. Both of those ratios appear to be too narrow from the present experiment. Average intakes of DE and DP for wk 5 to 8 and 9 to 12 are in Table 3. Calves on treatments 2 and 3 consumed a mean of 4.38 Mcal DE/day during wk 5 to 8 and gained 455 g/day. Mean DE intake was 7.64 Mcal/day during wk 9 to 12, and gain, 733 g/day. Calves on treatments 4 and 5 consumed a mean of 5.09 Mcal DE/day during wk 5 to 8 and gained 689 g/day, or 150% of those on rations averaging 9.4% digestible protein. During wk 9 to 12 mean DE intake was 8.53 Mcal/day, and gain, 905 g/day. Gain b y calves during wk 5 to 8 were in close agreement with predicted gains when NRC (15) digestible energy requirements were used. Those requirements are close to those

observed by Bryant et al. (3) and Gardner (5) and suggested in the summary of calf research by Jacobson (9). Greater mean daily DE intakes were required for gains of calves on rations averaging 9.4 or 12% DP during wk 9 to 12 than are suggested by NRC (15). Intakes of digestible energy and gains agreed with the higher DE requirements suggested by Morrill and Melton (14) and Roy (16). The mean DP intake was 130 g/day for calves on treatments 2 and 3 (9.4% DP) during wk 5 to 8. This compares to a requirement of 108 g with Jacobson's values of .6 g/kg BW for maintenance and .16 g/g gain. During wk 9 to 12 the calves consumed 227 g/day compared to the estimated requirement of 169 g. Energy intake appears to be the most limiting factor. For treatments 4 and 5, digestible protein intake averaged 203 g/day in wk 5 to 8 and 339 g/day in wk 9 to 12. When these rations were fed, energy intake also was increased and was probably the primary factor affecting calf growth and efficiency. Gardner and Akbar suggested an effect of protein on intake (6). Response seems similar from this research in improved feed intake, digestible energy intake, feed efficiency, and gain. There was no difference in weight gain or feed efficiency when urea was included in treatments 3 and 5 as compared with similar crude protein in treatments 2 and 4. Patterns in rumen fluid of volatile fatty acids

TABLE 4. Concentration and molar percentages of rumen volatile fatty acids sampled at 5, 8, and 12 wk. Treatment Crude protein, %

1

2

10

Total(#moles/ml)a,b 5 wk 8 wk 12 wk

124 109 113

Molar percentagesb,c Acetate Propionate Butyrate

53.3 3 5.4 11.3

aTotal of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. bObservation n = 7--9. CFor all periods. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 60, No. 9, 1977

4

12.5

3 12.5 urea

15

5 15 urea

140 125 106

129 152 124

129 137 136

141 131 129

51.5 38.7 9.7

54.3 33.4 12.3

54.4 33.8 11.8

56.4 33.4 10.2

PROTEIN AND ENERGY FOR CALVES ( V F A ) w e r e similar for t r e a t m e n t s and p e r i o d s (Table 4). The average t o t a l V F A c o n c e n t r a tions w e r e greater t h a n t h o s e o b s e r v e d b y L e i b h o l z (11). T h e r e w e r e n o d i f f e r e n c e s in V F A c o n c e n t r a t i o n or ratios b e t w e e n treatm e n t s or periods. F r o m t h e s e data we suggest an active microbial f e r m e n t a t i o n early in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f calves on l i m i t e d milk-early w e a n i n g s y s t e m s , b u t t h e y do n o t p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n o f h o w well the V F A m a y be utilized.

9 10 11 12

13 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The a u t h o r s wish to express t h e i r appreciation to R a n d y Gross a n d J a m e s C r o n r a t h f o r s u m m a r i z a t i o n o f data a n d chemical analyses o f samples. REFERENCES

1 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 1965. Official Methods of Analysis. lOth ed. AOAC, Washington, DC. 2 Broster, W. H. 1973. Protein energy interrelationships in growth and lactation of cattle and sheep. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 32:115. 3 Bryant, J. M., C. F. Foreman, N. L. Jacobson, and A. D. McGilliard. 1967. Protein and energy requirements of the young dairy calf. J. Dairy Sci. 50:1645. 4 Daniels, L. B., and C. Flynn. 1971. Evaluation of protein levels in calf starter rations. J. Dairy Sci. 54:788. 5 Gardner, R. W. 1968. Digestible protein requirements of calves fed high-energy rations ad libitum. J. Dairy Sci. 51:888. 6 Gardner, R. W., and M. Akbar. 1970. Effect of pelleting calf rations on minimum protein requirements. J. Dairy Sci. 53:1618. 7 Henschel, H. L., and H. D. Radloff. 1975. Effects of calf starters with different protein percents on growth and rumen development of Holstein calves. J. Dairy Sci. 58:741. (Abstr.) 8 Huber, J. T., and W. L. Miller. 1964. Effect of level

14

15

16

17

18

19

20 21 22

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of protein in the milk replacer and starter on calf growth. J. Dairy Sci. 47:688. Jacobson, N. L. 1969. Energy and protein requirements of the calf. J. Dairy Sci. 52:1.316. Lee, D. D., Jr., and G. C. McCoy. 1974. Protein requirements of dairy calves fed a complete pelleted starter. J. Dairy Sci. 57:651. (Abstr.) Leibholz, Jane. 1975. Ground roughage in the diet of the early-weaned calf. Anita. Prod. 20:93. Leibholz, Jane, and R. W. Naylor. 1971. The effect of urea in the diet of the early weaned calf on weight gain, nitrogen and sulfur balance, and plasma urea and free amino acid composition. Aust. J. Agr. Res. 22:655. McCoy, G. C., and D. E. Lee. 1974. Utilization of non-protein nitrogen in young dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 57:651. (Abstr.) Morrill, J. L., and S. L. Melton. 1973. Protein required in starters for calves fed milk once or twice daily. J. Dairy Sci. 56:927. National Research Council (NRC). 1971. Nutrient requirement of domestic animals. No. 3. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, 4th rev. ed. Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC. Roy, J. H. B. 1970. The Calf. Volume 2, Nutrition and Health. Third Ed. Iliffe Books Ltd. 42 Russell Square, London. Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie. 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, NY. Stobo, I. J. F., J. H. B. Roy, and Helen Gaston. 1967. The protein requirement of the ruminant calf. 1. The effect of protein content of the concentrate mixture on the performance of calves weaned at an early age. Anim. Prod. 9:7. Stobo, f. J. F., J. H. Roy, and Helen Gaston. 1967. The protein requirement of the ruminant calf. III. The ability of the calf weaned at five weeks of age to utilize urea given as a supplement to a low-protein concentrate. Anita. Prod. 9:155. Tinnimit, P., and J. N. Thomas. 1974. Percent and sources of protein for calves. J. Dairy Sci. 57:650. (Abstr.) Wallenius, R. W., and F. R. Murdock. 1972. Complete feeds for calves. Proceed. 7th Ann. Pacific Northwest Anim. Nutr. Conf., p. 69. Winter, K. A. 1973. Urea as a nitrogen supplement in starter feeds for early weaned calves. Canad. J. Anim. Sci. 53:339.

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 60, No. 9, 1977