Effects Of The Protein Source And Composition On Growth, Development And Immune Parameters Of Calves

The present study was conducted using preweaned calves as trial animals and different source and composition of protein in milk replacer as treatments. We utilized the regular method to evaluate the effect of dietary protein source and composition on the growth proformance and serum indices of preweaned calves; We analysed the differeces of digestion and metabolism of nutrients among the treatments using the method of digestion and metabolism trial; We measured the parameters of ruminal fluid collected by vacuum technique. The tree experiments were described in this study as follows.Experiment 1:Effect of protein of source on growth performance and serum indices of preweaned calfThe objective of this study is to investigate the effects of different of protein source on growth performance and serum biochemical parameters of calves. Fifty Chinese Holstein bull calves with similar body weight and day of age were randomly assigned to 5 groups (1 control group and 4 treatment groups) with 10 calves each. Milk replacer were designed for same level of energy and protein in each groups. All proteins in milk replacer came from milk protein for control group (MP). Calves in the four treatment groups were fed milk replacers which proteins were including 70% vegetable source protein and 30% milk protein of crude protein. The four vegetable proteins were soybean protein concentrate (SP), wheat gluten (WP), peanut protein concentrate (PP) and rice protein isolate (RP), respectively. The results showed as follows:1)There was no significant difference on average daily gain(ADG) and feed efficiency (F/G) among MP, SP and RP groups (P>0.05), while ADG or F/G of WP and PP groups were significant worse than that of MP group, respectively. (P<0.05).2) Compared with MP group, there was no significant difference on withers height, body length and heart girth in 4 treatment groups (P>0.05). Thus four vegetable proteins had no harmful effects on body size in calves.3) There were no significant difference on serum contents of urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin to globulin ratio (A/G), β-hydroxybutyrate, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and interleukin-2 among the 5 groups fed whichever protein source milk replacers (P>0.05). It concluded that soybean protein concentrate and rice protein isolate can replace the milk protein with the ratio of 70:30 in calf milk replacer while wheat gluten and peanut protein concentrate have significant adverse effects on growth performance with the same ratio on same nutrient level of this experiment.Experiment 2:Effect of protein of source on energy, nitrogen metabolism and rumen fermentation of preweaned calfThe objective of this study is to investigate the effects of source of different protein from milk replacer on nutrient digestion and rumen fermentations of calves. Fifty Chinese Holstein bull calves with similar body weight and day age were randomly assigned to 5 groups (1 control group and 4 treatment groups) with 10 calves each. Milk replacer were collocated with same level of energy and protein in each groups. The protein source of control group(MP) is from milk protein. Calves in 4 treatment groups were fed with milk-replacer whose protein contains 70% vegetable protein and 30% milk protein of crude protein. Vegetable proteins were respectively soybean protein concentrate (SP), wheat gluten (WP), peanut protein concentrate (PP) and rice protein isolate (RP). Digestibility trials were respectively performed on 4-5 weeks and 8-9 weeks after birth. Rumen fluids were respectively extracted after 28,42 and 56 days of birth. The results showed as follows:1) There was no significant difference on starter dry matter intake (DMI) among each groups between 21 and 56 day (P>0.05), while starter DMI of SP and RP groups were significantly higher than other groups, respectively (P<0.05).2) When calves were in 4-5 weeks. Organic matter (OM) digestibility of MP group was significantly higher than groups of WP, PP and RP groups (P<0.05).Crude protein (CP) digestibility of MP group was significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05), while CP digestibility of SP and RP groups were significantly higher than WP and PP groups and CP of digestibility of WP group was significantly higher than PP group (P<0.05). Ether extract (EE) of digestibility of MP, SP and RP groups were significantly higher than WP and PP groups (P<0.05). Calcium (Ca) digestibility of MP and RP groups were significantly higher WP and PP groups (P<0.05).Phosphorus (P) digestibility of MP and RP groups were significantly higher than SP and PP groups (P<0.05). When calves were 8-9 weeks of age, OM digestibility of MP group was significantly higher than WP and PP groups (P<0.05). CP digestibility of MP group was significantly higher than WP, PP and RP groups (P<0.05). Ca digestibility of MP and RP groups were significantly higher than SP and WP groups (P<0.05). There was no significantly difference on EE digestibility among five groups (P>0.05). P digestibility had same trend with EE among five groups (P>0.05). The energy digestibility were no significantly difference among five groups in whole trial (P>0.05). At age of 28 days, fecal energy (FE), urinary energy (UE), digestible energy (DE) and metabolic energy (ME) of groups of vegetable protein were between 2.01 to 2.60 MJ/d,4.37 to 5.53 MJ/d,12.49 to 13.09 MJ/d,6.98 to 8.73 MJ/d, and the digestibility and retention of nitrogen (N) were between 68.94 to 82.65%,33.79 to 41.67%, respectively. Thereinto, FE of WP, PP, RP groups were significant higher than MP group (P<0.05). DE and ME/GE (gross energy) of WP, PP groups were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). DE/GE of WP, PP, RP groups were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). ME and ME/DE of PP group were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). Nitrogen digestibility (ND) and P retention (PR) of all vegetable protein groups were significant lower than MP groups (P<0.05). Nitrogen retention (NR), Ca retention (CaR), CaR/Cal (Ca retention/Ca intake), PD/PI (P digestibility/P intake), PR/PI, PR/PD of WP, PP groups were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). CaR/CaD (Ca retention/Ca digestibility) of WP group was significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). At age of 63 days, FE, UE, DE, ME of groups of vegetable protein were between 4.75 to 5.48MJ/d,10.00 to 11.02MJ/d,23.93 to 24.89MJ/d,13.20 to 14.56MJ/d, and ND, NR were between 71.86 to 78.58%,40.70 to 44.01%, respectively. Thereinto, FE of WP, PP groups were significant higher than MP group (P<0.05). ME of PP groups was significant higher than MP groups (P<0.05). DE/GE of WP, PP groups were significant higher than MP group (P<0.05). ND of WP, PP, RP groups were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). CaR, CaR/CaI of SP, WP, PP groups were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). CaD/CaI of SP, WP groups were significant higher than MP group (P<0.05). PR of PP group were significant lower than MP group (P<0.05). PR/PI, PR/PD of SP, RP groups were significant higher than MP group (P<0.05).3) There were no significantly difference on each rumen fermentations indexes among five groups at 28 and 42 days old (P>0.05). The ones of 56 days, whose ruminal pH of SP and RP groups were significantly lower than MP, WP and PP groups (P<0.05). The differences of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) concentration of MP were not significantly with other groups (P>0.05), while the TVFA concentration of PP group was significantly lower than SP and RP groups (P<0.05). Propionic acid and butyric acid concentration of SP and RP groups were significantly higher than MP, WP and PP groups (P<0.05). Isovaleric acid and valeric acid concentration were significantly lower than other groups(P<0.05). From the above, vegetable protein digestibility was lower than milk protein of calves. Soybean protein had higher digestion in four vegetable protein treatments. As change the age, there was outstanding increase on nutrition digestibility for vegetable protein. Vegetable protein have stronger auxo-action to rumen growth than milk protein.Experiment 3:Effect of protein of composition on Growth Development and immune of preweaned calfThe objective of this study is to investigate the effects of different protein cmposition from milk replacer on growth performance and serum biochemical parameters of calves. Fifty Chinese Holstein cow calves with similar body weight and day of age were randomly assigned to 5 groups (1 control group and 4 treatment groups) with 10 calves each. The protein sources of milk replacer mainly contained four vegetable protein (VP) and the milk protein (MP) in our experiment, and 4 vegetable protein respectively was soybean protein concentrate (SPC), rice protein isolate(RPC), wheat protein concentrate (WPC) and peanut protein concentrate (PPC). Based on the protein source in milk replacer, each group respectively were recorded as VP1 (30%MP+70%SPC, in CP, the same below)、VP2 (30%MP+35%SPC+35%RPI)、VP3 (30%MP+23.4%SPC+23.3%RPI+23.3%WPH)、 VP4 (30%MP+23.4%SPC+23.3%RPI+23.3%PPC)、VP5 (30%MP+17.5%SPC+ 17.5%RPI+17.5%WPH+17.5%PPC. The VP1 was recorded as the control group. Feeding trials were performed on 21-63 day after calf birth. Results of the experiment showed:1) There was no significant difference on average daily gain (ADG) and feed:gain ratio (F:G) among 5 groups (P>0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) of VP4 and VP5 was significantly higher than the VP1 group (P<0.05), whereas DMI of VP2 and VP5 was no significantly different than VP1 group.2) The effect of different protein composition in milk replacer on body size was no significant. There were on significant different on withers height, body length, heart girth, abdominal girth and hip width among 4 treatment groups compared with the VP1 group.3) all groups show no significant difference on the serum content of urea nitrogen, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio (A:G), growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 in calf blood (P>0.05).4) rumen pH, concentration of ammonia nitrogen had no significant difference before and after morning feeding on 63 days of age. But butyric acid, TVFA of rumen before the morning feeding, and propionic acid, butyric acid after the morning feeding had significant difference.5) At the age of 28, EE digestibility of VP1 group had significantly higher than VP2, VP3 and VP5, N digestibility of VP1 group is significantly higher than VP5 group. At 63 days of age, energy retention of VP1 group is higher than the other four groups and significantly higher than VP5, P digestibility of VP1 group was lower than the other four groups and significantly lower than VP2 group. Conclusion, when we used the high quality vegetable protein as main protein source in milk replacer, the milk replacer contained the various vegetable protein were more propitious to nutrient requirement of calves compared with the single vegetable protein. We pointed that 30%MP+23.4%SPC+23.3%RPI+23.3%PPC was the best protein combination in all groups.In conclusion,1, Effect of different sources of protein in milk replacer on growth and immune for preweaned calf had great difference. The nutritional benefits of promoting growth and ensure health of calf:milk protein source>soybean protein>rice protein>wheat protein >peanut protein; 2, Lower digestion and nutrient content of vegetable protein than milk protein for sulking calf, vegetable protein partial substitution for milk protein in milk replacer will drive calf appetite toward dry starter, will thereby hasten reticulorumen development; 3, Using the combination of variety sources of vegetable protein to replace milk protein with the same amount in milk replacer, that was more beneficial to calf growth development and improve immune compared to single species of vegetable protein. Which protein combination of 30% MP RPI+23.4% SPC+23.3% +23.4% PPC was best.