بررسی اثر سطح نشاسته و بافت خوراک آغازین بر عملکرد، قابلیت هضم و متابولیت‌های خونی گوساله‌های شیری هلشتاین

This study evaluated the effect of starch level and physical form on the performance of dairy calves. Forty-eight three-day-old calves were randomly assigned to four treatments in a factorial design: (1) high starch with ground starter with, (2) low starch with pelleted starter, (3) low starch with ground starter, (4) low starch with pelleted starter. The results of this study indicated that calves consuming the high-starch diet with a meal texture had a higher dry matter intake compared to those on the high-starch diet with a pellet texture. However, dry matter intake in the low-starch treatments was not affected by feed texture. During the post weaning and overall periods, ADG tended to be greater in calves fed GS than in those fed PS (P<0.05). Furthermore, Calves fed PS had lower DMI compared with those fed GS. Heart girth was greater for calves fed HS compared with those fed LS, body barrel tended to be greater for HS compared with those fed LS and also GS-supplemented calves compared with PS-supplemented calves. Blood concentration of Glucose concentrations was greater for calves fed high starch and triglycerides concentrations were greater in calves on the low starch diets (P<0.05). Apparent DM, OM, neutral detergent fiber, and EE values were greater in calves fed HS than in those fed LS (P<0.05). In conclusion, ground form of the starter feeds can be used when calves are fed high starch diets and might influence better performance.