Date of Award

Winter 2025

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Agricultural Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Peter S Erickson

Second Advisor

Andre F Brito

Third Advisor

Sarah C Allen

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of graded amounts of nicotinic acid (NA) with a negative DCAD diet on cow health, colostrum composition and calf growth performance of Jersey cattle. We hypothesized that NA supplementation would increase IgG concentration of colostrum, increase calf intestinal absorption and growth and improve cow metabolic health. Thirty multiparous Jersey cows were blocked by calving date and assigned to either 0, 8 or 16 g/d of NA supplementation on top of the -40 mEq/kg DCAD dry cow diet. Blood samples were collected weekly for ketone analysis. Urine was collected three times weekly for pH, creatinine and purine derivatives analyses. Upon parturition, colostrum was collected within 90 minutes. Calves were not allowed to suckle but were weighed, and blood sampled within 45 min of birth and enrolled if their dams made ≥ to 2 L colostrum. Once enrolled, calves received up to 2 L colostrum at first feeding and remaining up to 1.5 L at 6 h. Twenty-seven calves were enrolled and were blocked based on treatment of dams and fed 4 L whole milk twice daily from d1 to 42. Calves were fed fresh coarse starter daily and had ad libitum water. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). There was no effect of NA supplementation on cow DMI, initial urine pH, weekly urine pH, final urine pH, initial ketone, weekly ketone, initial BW or weekly BW. There was a positive linear effect of final ketone and a negative linear effect for final BW (kg). There was no effect of NA on colostrum yield, IgG yield (g), fat percentage, total protein, total solids (%) or solids yield (g). There was a quadratic effect for IgG (g/L) and protein yield (g) with 8 g/d producing the highest concentration. There was a negative linear effect for fat yield (g). There was no effect for lactoferrin (g/L), lactoferrin yield (g), IGF-1 (ng/mL) or IGF-1 yield (ug). No difference was observed in colostrum fed (L), lactoferrin intake (L), IGF-1 intake (ug). Linear and quadratic effects were observed for IgG intake (g) with 8 g/d resulting in the highest amount. Calves from NA dams had greater circulating xylose but there was no difference observed in 0 hr xylose. Calves from NA dams had higher weekly body length (cm). There was no difference in AEA, initial BW, weekly BW, final BW, ADG final ketones, or skeletal measurements (overall and daily). 24 h IgG concentration (g/L) had a significant quadratic effect with 8 g/d resulting in the highest amount. Feed efficiency (ADG/DMI) also had a quadratic effect. Starter intake (g/d) and total DMI (g) had a positive linear effect. Initial ketones had a negative linear effect. A tendency for treatment by week effect for weekly ketones (mmol/L) where 8 g/d resulted in the lowest. These data suggest that supplementing 8 g/d NA to prepartum, multiparous Jersey cows fed a -40 mEq/kg DM DCAD is recommended for colostrum quality and 24-h IgG concentration in the calf, while 16 g/d NA supplementation is recommended for calf growth.

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