Supplementation of Lysine and Methionine in Milk Replacer or Starter Concentrate for Dairy Calves in Step-Up/Step-Down Feeding Program

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Young animals may have limited growth when amino acid (AA) requirements, especially lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met), are not met. However, the requirements of these AA are not well established for dairy calves, and supplementation strategies may vary with the milk feeding program. This study aimed to evaluate supplementation with Lys and Met in a milk replacer (MR) or a starter concentrate (SC) for calves in a step-up/step-down feeding program. Supplementation with Lys and Met did not benefit the dairy calves’ performance or metabolism when fed higher volumes of MR. Further studies are needed to understand the negative effects of AA on calf starter intake. ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the performance and metabolic changes in dairy calves fed in a step-up/step-down program and supplemented with lysine and methionine in a milk replacer (MR) or starter concentrate (SC). Male Holstein calves (n = 45) were blocked and distributed in the control without supplementation (1) and with lysine and methionine supplementation in the SC to achieve an intake of 17 and 5.3 g/d, respectively (2), and in the MR to achieve the same daily intake (3). MR was fed 4 L/d until the 2nd week, 8 L/d from the 3rd to 6th week, and 4 L/d from the 7th to 8th week, when calves were weaned. The calves were followed until the 10th week of age. Feed intake was measured daily. Weight and body measurements were registered weekly, and blood samples were collected biweekly. The lysine and methionine intake during the whole period was higher when supplementation occurred via MR. There was a supplementation effect for average daily gain after weaning, and the animals supplemented in the MR had lower BW than those that were not supplemented. Supplementation in MR decreased starter intake at the 10th week and total intake (g DM/d) after weaning. Supplementation with lysine and methionine in the MR or the SC did not benefit the performance or metabolism of dairy calves in the step-up/step-down program. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of amino acid supplementation on feed intake.