Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of powdered cheese whey and milk powder as a substitute for whole milk on rumen development in calves up to 60 days of age. Twenty-one-week-old Holstein-Gir crossbred calves were randomized across four treatments and six replicates: LI: whole milk (Control); LP: milk powder; LPS1: 80% milk powder + 20% cheese whey powder; LPS2: 60% Milk Powder + 40% Cheese Whey Powder. The animals were slaughtered at 60 days of age. The consumption, weight of stomach and its compartments, ruminal papilla height, and rumen proliferative activity were measured. Dry matter intake, absolute and relative weights of the gastric compartments were similar. Significant differences were found in the development of rumen papillae and the mean height of the ventral sac was higher in the animals that received whole milk. There were no significant differences for cell proliferation rate in rumen papillae. It is suggested that feeding calves whey with powdered milk may be a viable alternative to the use of whole milk without harming dairy calves.

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