Trace minerals source in calf starters interacts with birth weights to affect growth performance

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Dairy Nutrition
• Animal Health

Background:

• Inorganic minerals (IM) are essential for calf development.
• Trace mineral supplementation in chelated forms may enhance bioavailability.
• Calf birth weight influences growth and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of advanced chelated minerals (ACMS) versus IM on Holstein calf performance.
• To assess the effects of ACMS on calf health and behavior.
• To investigate interactions between mineral source and calf birth weight.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-two Holstein calves were assigned to a 2x2 factorial design.
• Treatments included two mineral sources (IM vs. ACMS) and two birth weights (low vs. normal).
• Performance, health, and behavior were monitored from birth to 71 days.

Main Results:

• Normal birth weight (NBW) calves exhibited higher feed intake and growth metrics than low birth weight (LBW) calves.
• ACMS supplementation tended to improve feed intake, growth, and reduce negative health indicators compared to IM.
• ACMS significantly improved average daily gain (ADG) and body weight (BW) in LBW calves, narrowing the performance gap with NBW calves.
• ACMS reduced non-nutritive oral behaviors in calves.

Conclusions:

• Advanced chelated minerals (ACMS) enhance dairy calf performance and health.
• ACMS is particularly beneficial for low birth weight (LBW) calves, improving their growth efficiency.
• Replacing inorganic minerals with ACMS offers a promising strategy for optimizing calf starter diets.