Influence of different water access status of suckling calves on performance, water intake behavior and some blood metabolites

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of water accessibility of pre-weaning calves during milk feeding meal on performance, water intake behavior and some blood metabolites. Forty-eight Holstein calves (39.2 ± 5.8 kg of BW) were assigned to 4 treatments, which consisted of different water accessibility: 1) Ad libitum water (AW), 2) Water not available (WNA), 3) Water available after milk feeding (WAM) and 4) Water available before milk feeding (WBM). Resulted showed different water accessibility changed water consumption of calves. The water intake of AW (1.03 kg/d) and WBM (1.07 kg/d) treatments were higher than others. Starter intake of WBM decreased (P<0.05) as compared with others. Calves of WBM had higher (P<0.05) activity of serum AST. Blood Cl and K did not show the difference (P<0.05) among treatments. Serum TAC levels were higher (P<0.05) in WNA and WAM calves. Serum protein and HDL in WNA calves were higher (P<0.05) than others. These groups had higher (P<0.05) serum Na concentration than others. The different water accessibility of calves had no significant effects on health score, respiratory, fecal score and growth parameters. Treatments did not affect behaviors parameters. But the number of visiting water bucket of AW and WBM were higher than other groups. Acetic acid and propionic acid of AW calves significantly increased (P<0.05) as versus other treatments. Drinking water around milk feeding meal change water consumption, performance and improve some blood metabolites and rumen parameters of calves but did not influence growth parameters.