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http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.16.0981

Effects of various weaning times on growth performance, rumen fermentation and microbial population of yellow cattle calves  

Mao, Huiling (College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A and F University)
Xia, Yuefeng (College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A and F University)
Tu, Yan (Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture Feed Research Institute, Feed Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)
Wang, Chong (College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A and F University)
Diao, Qiyu (Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture Feed Research Institute, Feed Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)
Publication Information
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences / v.30, no.11, 2017 , pp. 1557-1562 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of weaning times on the growth performance, rumen fermentation and microbial communities of yellow cattle calves. Methods: Eighteen calves were assigned to a conventional management group that was normally weaned (NW, n = 3) or to early weaned (EW) group where calves were weaned when the feed intake of solid feed (starter) reached 500 g ($EW_{500}$, n = 5), 750 g ($EW_{750}$, n = 5), or 1,000 g ($EW_{1,000}$, n = 5). Results: Compared with NW, the EW treatments increased average daily gain (p<0.05). The calves in $EW_{750}$ had a higher (p<0.05) starter intake than those in $EW_{1,000}$ from wk 9 to the end of the trial. The concentrations of total volatile fatty acids in $EW_{750}$ were greater than in NW and $EW_{1,000}$ (p<0.05). The EW treatments decreased the percentage of acetate (p<0.05). The endogenous enzyme activities of the rumen were increased by EW (p<0.05). EW had no effect on the number of total bacteria (p>0.05), but changes in bacterial composition were found. Conclusion: From the present study, it is inferred that EW is beneficial for rumen fermentation, and weaning when the feed intake of the starter reached 750 g showed much better results.
Keywords
Weaning Time; Yellow Cattle Calves; Growth Performance; Rumen Fermentation; Microbial Population;
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