Performance and Blood Biochemistry of Friesian Holstein Dairy Calves with Different Types of Fodder as Forage Starter

Abstract

| High calf mortality (up to 35%) is often linked to poor feed quality and quantity. While elephant grass is commonly used to meet fiber needs, its high crude fiber (32.6%) exceeds the 16% limit young calves can digest, risking digestive issues. This challenge is worsened during the dry season due to limited forage availability. Hydroponic fodder presents a promising alternative, offering lower crude fiber, higher crude protein, fast growth, and year-round accessibility. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and blood biochemistry of weaned Friesian Holstein dairy calves fed various types of hydroponic fodder specifically corn, sorghum, and rice. The research involved 16 calves aged 2 to 3 months, assigned to four forage starter treatments: elephant grass (as the control) and three types of hydroponic fodder. The parameters analyzed included dry matter intake (DMI), body dimensions (shoulder height, body length, and chest circumference), and average daily gain (ADG), as well as blood biochemical markers such as total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results showed that the treatments had no statistically significant effect on DMI or ADG (P > 0.05). However, calves fed hydroponic fodder exhibited a tendency toward improved DMI and ADG, with a particularly significant increase in chest circumference compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Importantly, the use of hydroponic forage starters did not adversely affect blood biochemical parameters, indicating that these feed sources are safe and do not compromise animal health. In conclusion, the findings provide evidence that hydroponic fodder corn, sorghum, and rice can be effectively used as forage starters for post-weaning dairy calves. This strategy presents a sustainable and promising approach to improving livestock nutrition and addressing challenges in animal production systems.