Effect of Maternal or Formulated Transition Milk on the Health and Performance of Dairy Calves

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Decreases in morbidity rate and increases in performance are essential to obtain replacement heifers in a reasonably productive and cost-efficient manner. The aim of this study was to understand the value of feeding maternal or formulated transition milk to newborn Holstein calves after colostrum feeding for three days. After receiving high-quality colostrum in one meal, during the following six meals calves were fed 2 L of either whole milk, transition milk or formulated transition milk, by the addition of colostrum powder to whole milk. After that, calves were fed equally, receiving 6 L/d of whole milk, and starter and water were free choice. Even though calves fed transition milk or formulated transition milk presented a higher total solids intake, there were no effects on health or performance. The transition milk composition and the number of meals after colostrum feeding need more investigation. ABSTRACT: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal or formulated transition milk with colostrum powder on the performance and health of dairy calves. After receiving 12% of their birth weight in high-quality colostrum, 36 Holstein calves (17 males and 19 females) were blocked according to sex, birth date and birth weight (29.16 kg ± 1.34) and randomly distributed into three treatments: (1) Milk: supplying 4 L/d of whole milk (WM) for three days (n = 12); (2) Transition milk (TM): supplying 4 L/d of maternal transition milk for three days (n = 12); (3) Formulated transition milk (FTM): supplying 4 L/d of whole milk enriched with 280 g/d of colostrum powder, for three days (n = 12). Daily feeding was split into two feedings, and after the sixth feeding of the transition diet calves were fed 6 L/d of whole milk and had ad libitum access to water and calf starter until 56 d, when the study ended. Calves fed TM or FTM presented a higher total solids intake (p < 0.05). Concentrations of glucose (p = 0.096) and lactate (p = 0.063), evaluated from 0 h to 72 h, tended to be higher in WM-fed calves compared to TM. There were no effects on calf’s health or performance and weight; at the week 8 averaged 65.06 kg ± 1.85. All treatments resulted in adequate performance and good health, however, the potential benefits of providing TM or FTM were not seen in this study. The transition milk composition and the number of meals after colostrum feeding need more investigation.