Effect of fatty acids added to the milk replacer on white scour and excretion of fatty acids in Holstein calves

Abstract

In order to examine the relationship between white scour and fatty acids, we added fatty acids to the milk replacer. Twenty healthy Holstein calves were divided into 4 groups, five calves per group; a control group with no fortified fatty acid, and 3 groups fed either with oleic, stearic, or palmitic acid, respectively. The calves were fed milk replacer (5% of the calf's body weight) twice a day but the fatty acids (2 wt % of milk replacer) were added only once. The fecal and blood samples were obtained at 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after feeding of the acids. All five calves in the palmitic acid group, and 3 out of 5 calves each in the stealic and the oleic acid groups had whitish feces after feeding fatty acid. The stearic acid group had a significantly elevated stearic acid concentration in the feces during 24-36 h compared to the pre-feeding level. The fecal concentration of palmitic acid increased significantly at 24-36 h in the palmitic acid group. We concluded that the long-chain saturated fatty acids are one of the causes of white scour in calves. © 2009 Japanese Society of Animal Science.