Gastrointestinal Tract Development in Unweaned Calves Feeding Different Amounts of Milk and Different Starters

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different starter diets and different amounts of milk on growth performance and gastrointestinal tract development in unweaned calves. 16 calves were assigned to 4 groups, 4 calves in each group. These four groups received the following treatments respectively: 1) high milk (6 L) + low starch (21%), high NDF (28%), high molasses (10%) starter (HMLS group); 2) high milk (6L) + high starch (40%), low NDF (14%), low molasses (5%) starter (HMHS group); 3) low milk (3 L) + low starch (21%), high NDF (28%), high molasses (10%) starter (LMLS group); 4) low milk (3 L) + high starch (40%), low NDF (14%), low molasses (5%) starter (LMHS group). The trial was of 2 × 2 factorial design. All calves had free access to hay and water. Results showed that the low milk allowance increased calf concentrate dry matter intake (DMI) and total DMI, reduced body height at 4 weeks of age, reduced heart girth at 6 weeks of age ( P < 0.05). The low milk allowance increased complex stomach full weight, reticulorumen full weight, and the percentages of stomach full weight and reticulorumen full weight over body weight ( P < 0.05). The low starch, high fiber, high molasses starters reduced the complex stomach full weight, the proportion of the complex stomach empty weight over body weight, reticulorumen empty weight, abomasum full weight, the proportion of abomasum empty weight over body weight and reticulorumen volume ( P < 0.05). The low milk allowance increased calf intestine length, small intestine full weight, the proportion of small intestine full weight over body weight, but reduced the jejunum villus width ( P < 0.05), increased ruminal pH ( P < 0.05). The low milk allowance reduced papilla length in rumen anterior ventral blind sac, but increased papilla length in the posterior ventral sac ( P < 0.05).