Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves
Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves
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DOI：
10.3168/jds.2015-9395
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发表时间：
2015-09-01
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Weary, D. M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Costa, J. H. C.;Meagher, R. K.;Weary, D. M.
传统上，奶牛犊在整个哺乳期都被饲养在单独的围栏中。社会饲养与固体饲料摄入量的增加有关，因此断奶前后体重增加较多。人们对社会住房开始年龄的影响知之甚少。本研究的目的是评估早期与晚期配对对断奶前后喂养行为和体重增加的影响。荷斯坦公牛犊单独饲养（n = 8 头牛犊），或在 6 +/- 3 天（n = 8 对）或 43±3 d 龄（n = 8 对）时与另一头牛犊配对。所有犊牛在4周内饲喂8L/天的牛奶，4至7周期间为6L/天，然后减少20%/天的牛奶，直到犊牛在8周龄时完全断奶。为犊牛提供随意的犊牛开食剂和总混合日粮（TMR）。从 3 周到 10 周龄，每周测量体重和采食量。在整个实验期间，早期配对的犊牛的犊牛开食料摄入量明显高于单独饲养和晚期配对的犊牛。 10 周龄时，早期配对、晚期配对和单独圈养的犊牛的开食干物质摄入量平均分别为 2.20 +/- 0.22、1.09 +/- 0.25 和 1.26 +/- 0.33 kg/d。 TMR 的摄入量在处理之间没有差异，对于相同的 3 个处理，TMR 干物质摄入量平均为 3.27 +/- 0.72、3.08 +/- 0.46 和 2.89 +/- 0.54 kg/d。早期配对处理的犊牛在实验期间也表现出显着较高的平均日增重（早期配对、个体和晚期配对的犊牛分别为 0.89 +/- 0.04 与 0.76 +/- 0.04 和 0.73 +/- 0.04 kg/d）。这些结果表明，出生后不久的社会住房可以增加体重增加和固体饲料的摄入量。
Dairy calves have traditionally been kept in individual pens throughout the milk-feeding period. Social rearing is associated with increased solid feed intake and, hence, higher weight gains before and after weaning. Little is known about the effect of the age at which social housing begins. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of early versus late pairing on feeding behavior and weight gain before and after weaning. Holstein bull calves were reared individually (n = 8 calves) or paired with another calf at 6 +/- 3 d (n = 8 pairs) or 43 3 d of age (n = 8 pairs). All calves were fed 8 L of milk/d for 4 wk, 6 L/d from 4 to 7 wk, and then milk was reduced by 20%/d until calves were completely weaned at 8 wk of age. Calves were provided ad libitum access to calf starter and a total mixed ration (TMR). Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly from 3 to 10 wk of age. Intake of calf starter was significantly higher for the early-paired calves than for individually reared and late-paired calves throughout the experimental period. At 10 wk of age, starter dry matter intake averaged 2.20 +/- 0.22, 1.09 +/- 0.25, and 1.26 +/- 0.33 kg/d for early-paired, late-paired, and individually housed calves, respectively. Intake of TMR did not differ among treatments, TMR dry matter intake averaged 3.27 +/- 0.72, 3.08 +/- 0.46, and 2.89 +/- 0.54 kg/d for the same 3 treatments. Calves in the early paired treatment also showed significantly higher average daily gain over the experimental period (0.89 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.76 +/- 0.04 and 0.73 +/- 0.04 kg/d for the early-paired, individual, and late-paired calves, respectively). These results indicate that social housing soon after birth can increase weight gains and intake of solid feed.