Growth performance, faecal scores, and metabolic profiles of neonatal Holstein calves with extended transition milk feeding

The performance and health status of dairy calves may benefit from further transition milk feeding during the early postnatal period. However, transition milk obtained from cows during the first three to seven postpartum milkings is usually commingled with bulk tank milk by farmers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the growth performance and health status of Holstein calves provided with extended transition milk feeding for the first three weeks of life. Twenty newborn singleton Holstein calves without any health problems or dystocia were blocked by birthweight, sex, and parity and assigned to two groups: control (fed normal milk after day 5, n = 10) and transition (fed transition milk up to day 21, n = 10). The calves were housed in individual hutches and weighed to determine their growth rate, and blood samples were collected on days 1, 7, 14, and 21. Residual calf starter pellets were weighed daily to calculate the feed conversion efficiency. The calves were monitored and their faecal scores were recorded daily. Feeding transition milk until 21 days of age improved the calves’ daily growth and calf starter pellet feed conversion efficiency. The calves’ faecal scores and blood parameters were not affected by transition milk feeding. No treatment × week interactions were observed in the calves’ growth performance, faecal scores, and blood parameters, except for the serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase and beta-hydroxybutyrate. In conclusion, feeding Holstein calves transition milk for the first three weeks of life is recommended to improve growth performance.