Maternal supply of methionine during late-pregnancy enhances rate of Holstein calf development in utero and postnatal growth to a greater extent than colostrum source

Table 2 Weekly growth parameters (1–9 wk of age), daily starter intake and average daily gain (1–56 d of age) in calves born to Holstein cows offered a control diet (CON) or CON supplemented with ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected Met (Mepron® at 0.09% of diet DM; Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, Germany) during the last 28 d of pregnancy. A subset of calves born to CON cows received CON colostrum (CC, n = 21) or Met colostrum (CM, n = 18). Similarly, a subset of calves born to Met cows received Met colostrum (MM, n = 22) or CON colostrum (MC, n = 20). The interactions of maternal diet × sex or colostrum × sex were not signiciant (P > 0.05). Longitudinal means for body weight, hip height, wither height, and starter intake in calves born to CON cows or Met cows are reported in Additional file 1: Figure S1

Item	Maternal diet		Colostrum type			P value¹
Item	CON	MET	CON	MET	SEM	M	C	T	M × C	Sex	M × T	C × T
Body weight, kg	59.3^b	62.4^a	61.1	60.5	1.9	0.02	0.66	< 0.01	0.77	0.01	0.31	0.41
Hip height, cm	86.9^b	88.8^a	87.5	88.1	0.68	< 0.01	0.34	< 0.01	0.40	0.25	0.80	0.18
Hip width, cm	20.3	20.6	20.3	20.6	0.32	0.26	0.17	< 0.01	0.78	< 0.01	0.49	0.24
Wither height, cm	82.7^b	84.5^a	83.3	83.9	0.67	< 0.01	0.31	< 0.01	0.99	0.37	0.53	0.11
Body length, cm	126	128	127	126	1.01	0.17	0.68	< 0.01	0.20	< 0.01	0.53	0.77
Daily starter intake, kg	0.79	0.85	0.80	0.84	0.09	0.19	0.39	< 0.01	0.82	0.87	0.27	0.95
Average daily gain, kg	0.67^b	0.72^a	0.68	0.71	0.02	0.03	0.21	–	0.65	0.33	–	–
Feed efficiency²	0.77	0.78	0.79	0.75	0.04	0.74	0.31	–	0.30	0.68	–	–
Rectal T, °C	38.3	38.7	38.4	38.7	0.26	0.32	0.39	< 0.01	0.33	0.28	0.57	0.47
Fecal score³	1.83^a	1.71^b	1.80	1.74	0.09	0.07	0.34	< 0.01	0.67	0.09	0.53	0.13
Respiratory score⁴	1.08	1.06	1.07	1.06	0.03	0.61	0.79	0.13	0.17	0.11	0.87	0.92

¹M, maternal diet effect, C colostrum type effect, T time effect.
²Feed efficiency (total gain/total DMI).
³Fecal score base on appearance: 1 = Firm well formed; 2 = Soft, pudding like; 3 = Runny, package batter; 4 = Liquid, splatters.
⁴Respiratory score base on appearance: 1 = Normal; 2 = Runny rose; 3 = Heavy breathing; 4 = Cough moist; 5 = Cough dry.
^a,bMeans on the same row differ (P ≤ 0.05).

ISSN: 2049-1891