Evaluating the potential role of tryptophan in calf milk replacers to facilitate weaning
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Author
Yeste, N.
Bassols, A.
Vidal, M.
Bach, A.
Terré, M.
Publication date
2020-05-29ISSN
0022-0302
Abstract
Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that participates in the control of the affective state of an animal. We hypothesized that Trp supplementation could help dairy calves to cope with weaning stress. Twenty-seven Holstein male calves (48 ± 0.8 d old; 82 ± 2.6 kg of body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of Trp supplementation at a rate of 4.5 g/d via milk replacer (MR) on performance and behavioral parameters around weaning. All calves received the same feeding program (6 L/d at 15% dry matter from d 1 to 7, 4 L/d at 15% dry matter from d 8 to 14, and 2 L/d at 15% dry matter in one feeding until d 21 of study) and were completely weaned 22 d after the beginning of the study (around 70 d of life). Calves were fed a starter feed (19.3% crude protein and 16.2% neutral detergent fiber, on a dry matter basis) and chopped straw ad libitum. Animals were weighed weekly, dry matter intakes were recorded daily, lying behavior was recorded using accelerometers throughout the study, and scan sampling was performed twice a week, 1 h after the morning feeding, to record behavioral activity (nonnutritive oral behaviors, suckling a neighbor calf, standing, resting, rumination, vocalizations, eating, and drinking). Tryptophan supplementation did not affect calf performance or concentrate and MR intake, but straw intake tended to be greater in nonsupplemented compared with Trp-supplemented calves (153 vs. 129 ± 9.0 g/d, respectively). Lying time, lying bouts, and lying duration decreased when changes in the MR feeding program occurred, independent of treatment. Similarly, differences in behavioral observations occurred along days of study, with no effect of Trp supplementation. The main changes observed in calf behavior were an increase in vocalizations and standing time 1 h after the morning feeding at weaning, but again these changes were independent of treatment. Parameters measured in serum and plasma indicated an increase in Trp, kynurenine, and the kynurenine/Trp ratio after feeding in the Trp calves. A tendency for lower plasma glucose concentration after feeding was observed in the Trp group. No changes in stress markers such as cortisol and haptoglobin in serum were detected. In conclusion, supplementing 4.5 g/d of Trp via MR between 48 and 62 d of life had no effect on performance or behavior in calves around weaning.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
59 - Zoology
619 - Veterinary science
63 - Agriculture and related sciences and techniques
636 - Animal husbandry and breeding in general. Livestock rearing. Breeding of domestic animals
Pages
9
Publisher
Elsevier
Is part of
Journal of Dairy Science
Citation
Yeste, N., A. Bassols, M. Vidal, A. Bach, and M. Terré. 2020. "Evaluating The Potential Role Of Tryptophan In Calf Milk Replacers To Facilitate Weaning". Journal Of Dairy Science 103 (8): 7009-7017. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-18088.
Grant agreement number
MINECO/Programa Estatal de fomento de la investigación científica y técnica de excelencia/AGL2015-68463-C2-1-P/ES/DETERMINACION DE LOS AMINOACIDOS LIMITANTES PARA EL CRECIMIENTO DE LOS TERNEROS AMAMANTADOS Y SU FUNCIONALIDAD/
MINECO/Programa Estatal de fomento de la investigación científica y técnica de excelencia/AGL2015-68463-C2-2-P/ES/ESTUDIO MOLECULAR DE LOS EFECTOS DE LA SUPLEMENTACION DE AMINOACIDOS EN TERNEROS AMAMANTADOS MEDIANTE UNA APROXIMACION BIOQUIMICA Y PROTEOMICA/
Program
Producció de Remugants
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2647]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/