Behavior of dairy heifers after increasing the amounts of milk replacer powder added to whole milk

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of increasing the contents of total solids (TS) in whole milk, by adding increasing amounts of milk replacer powder, on the behavior of dairy heifers. Holstein-Gyr crossbred heifers (n = 60) were distributed in four treatments: 13.5, 16.1, 18.2, and 20.4% TS. From 5 to 55 days of age, heifers received 6 L per day of liquid feed, which was reduced by half from 56 to 59 days. Heifers were weaned at 60 days of age and monitored until 90 days, and their behavior was evaluated weekly. During gradual weaning and after weaning, heifer behavior was recorded 1 hour before and 1 hour after liquid feed was offered, and, during weaning, it was evaluated by the scan method. Heifers fed liquid feed containing 20.4% TS present a higher number of play behaviors, spent less time standing, and spent more time ruminating than those that received liquid feed with 13.5% TS, indicating that a higher nutritional plan during weaning is an effective strategy to reduce stress in this period.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rufino,Sâmara Raiany de Almeida, Azevedo,Rafael Alves de, Furini,Pamela Michéli, Campos,Mariana Magalhães, Machado,Fernanda Samarini, Pires,Maria de Fátima Avila, Lima,Juliana Aparecida Mello, Coelho,Sandra Gesteira
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Embrapa Secretaria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento 2019
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-204X2019000104310
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