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Table 2 Body measurements and growth performance during preweaning period in least-efficient (L-eff, n = 13) or most-efficient (M-eff, n = 13) heifer calves

From: Residual feed intake divergence during the preweaning period is associated with unique hindgut microbiome and metabolome profiles in neonatal Holstein heifer calves

Week RFI SEM1 P-value
  L-eff M-eff   RFI Time RFI × Time
Weekly body weight, kg
 1 43.62 42.31 1.36 0.30 < 0.01 0.11
 2 46.25 44.91 1.36    
 3 50.38 49.48 1.36    
 4 56.39 54.69 1.36    
 5 61.76 59.72 1.36    
 6 67.41 63.38 1.36    
Weekly body length, cm
 1 111.82 111.37 1.59 0.89 < 0.01 0.90
 2 114.81 115.92 1.59    
 3 117.99 118.31 1.59    
 4 121.18 122.19 1.59    
 5 125.17 125.01 1.59    
 6 128.54 128.47 1.59    
Weekly hip height, cm
 1 81.42 81.90 0.82 0.98 < 0.01 0.40
 2 83.06 83.52 0.82    
 3 84.57 84.30 0.82    
 4 85.88 85.36 0.82    
 5 87.45 87.49 0.82    
 6 89.54 89.18 0.82    
Weekly hip width, cm
 1 16.49 16.16 0.32 0.11 < 0.01 0.34
 2 17.74 17.61 0.32    
 3 18.88 18.18 0.32    
 4 19.56 18.84 0.32    
 5 20.36 19.60 0.32    
 6 21.33 20.36 0.32    
Weekly wither height, cm
 1 77.50 77.80 0.80 0.81 < 0.01 0.53
 2 78.29 79.25 0.80    
 3 80.54 80.60 0.80    
 4 81.64 81.64 0.80    
 5 83.25 83.45 0.80    
 6 85.08 85.14 0.80    
Weekly body weight gain2, kg/d
 1 0.10b 0.37a 0.10 0.94 < 0.01 < 0.01
 2 0.38 0.37 0.10    
 3 0.59 0.65 0.10    
 4 0.86 0.75 0.10    
 5 0.77 0.72 0.10    
 6 0.91a 0.52b 0.10    
 Cumulative body weight gain, kg 23.83 23.68 0.50 0.94   
 Cumulative starter DMI, kg 19.98 10.90 1.66 < 0.01   
  1. 1Standard error of the mean
  2. 2Average daily gain per week (kg) = (final BW – initial BW)/7
  3. a,bDifferent letters indicate significant differences due to the main maternal effect (P < 0.05)
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Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

ISSN: 2049-1891