Evaluation of spray-dried plasma in milk replacers fed at a high plane of nutrition on performance, intestinal permeability, and morbidity

Spray-dried plasma protein (PP) has been shown to improve growth and intestinal function in young calves when included in milk replacers (MR) fed at conventional rates. The use of a PP and wheat blend to replace a portion of whey protein has been shown to perform similarly to an all whey protein control MR. However, there are growing trends in the dairy industry to feed calves for accelerated growth in the pre-weaning period. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of increasing amounts of PP inclusion in MR on the growth and health of calves fed at a high plane of nutrition. Young (<7 d) Holstein calves were assigned to one of five treatments: an all milk protein (whey) control MR (0PP, n=26), MR containing 5% PP (5PP, n=20), 7.5% PP (7.5PP, n= 14), 10% PP (10PP, n= 20), or 12% of an approximate 1:1 PP/wheat blend (PW, n= 17). All diets were formulated to contain 26% CP and 16% fat and were fed at a maximum rate of 1 kg DM MR from d 8 to 36 before a weekly reduction of 25% from d 37 to 57. Calves continued on the experiment from d 58 to 63. Intestinal permeability was assessed via lactulose and D-mannitol test on d 4, 15, 36, and 57. There was a tendency for a positive linear relationship between increasing PP and body weight average daily gain (BWADG) while PP had mixed effects on other frame growth parameters. Increasing PP tended to increase fecal scores and increased the amount of fluid therapy given. Increasing PP led to a linear decrease in MR consumed, but this difference was small. Increasing PP led to an increase in serum total cholesterol and tended to have a quadratic effect on serum glucose concentration on d 36. Increasing PP led to an increase in serum urea N concentration on d 36. Increasing PP increased the cost per calf, but tended to decrease the cost for medication and cost per kg of gain was unaffected by treatment. Calves fed PW tended to have increased withers height, increased intestinal permeability on d 36, and an increased likelihood to be medicated or medicated for respiratory illness but growth and health were not different from the control diet otherwise. Feeding PW led to an increase in serum total cholesterol and tended to lead to increased serum glucose concentration on d 36. Results of this study indicate that PP can be included at up to 10% in the MR of calves fed at a high plane of nutrition with improvements in BWADG and certain frame growth parameters. Additionally, a 1:1 plasma wheat blend can be utilized at 12% inclusion with no difference in most health and growth parameters.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Henrichs, Benjamin Scott

Contributors dc:contributor

• Drackley, James K
• Cardoso, Felipe C
• Stein, Hans H

• dairy calves
• plasma protein
• plasma wheat blend
• high plane of nutrition
• intestinal permeability

Statement dc:rights

• ©2020 Benjamin Scott Henrichs

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109321

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109321