Effects of Various Colostrum Feeding Methods on Growth Performance and Immunity of Holstein-Friesian Calves
Effects of Various Colostrum Feeding Methods on Growth Performance and Immunity of Holstein-Friesian Calves
Ali Mujtab Shah1,2,3, Muhammad Naeem2, Muhammad Giasuddin Shah2, Muhammad Haaroon2, Quanhui Peng1 and Zhisheng Wang1,*
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of various colostrum feeding methods on growth performance, and immunity of Holstein Friesian (HF) calves. The applied feeding methods were stomach tube (ST), nipple feeder (NF) and natural suckling (NS). A total of 15 newly born HF calves were selected randomly from the available stock and divided into 3 groups, each of 5 calves. The median birth weight (kg) ± S.D of calves fed by ST, NP and NS were recorded as 28.68±1.16, 28.44±0.67 and 28.56±1.13, respectively. Results of this study showed that the serum IgG levels and body weight gain were significantly (p < 0.05) different among the groups, the greater levels were observed in ST (15.74±0.29 mg/ml) as compared to NF (11.52±0.72 mg/ml) and NS (10.36±0.36 mg/ml) during the experiment period. Whereas; withers height, heart girth and body length were found non-significant (p > 0.05) among the groups. The morbidity rate of calves fed different levels of colostrum by ST, NF and NS, diarrhea was found 40, 80 and 60% calves affected among the groups respectively, whereas pneumonia problem was observed as 20, 40 and 60% calves were affected accordingly. It is concluded from the present study theconcentration of serum IgG following administration of colostrum by ST method increases at a rate to that in calves fed by NS and NB and reaches a level consistent with high calf survival, it is also concluded from the study that the body weight gain is increased by ST feeding.
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December 2019
Vol. 51, Iss. 6, Pages 1999-2399
