10/23/17

1

Effect of dietary supplementation of two forms of a B-vitamin and Choline blend on the performance of

Holstein calves during the transition and early postweaning period

Rodrigo Molano1, Christiane Girard2 and Mike Van Amburgh1

1Department of Animal Science, Cornell University2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

1

Dairy Replacement Raising

Adequate nutrition and management

Enhanced Growth

ê Time to target weights

ê Rearing cost

Pre-weaningWeaning-Breeding

Soberon et al, 2012

Per kg ADG

+ 2300 Kg + 8200 Kg

éMilk Production1st to 3rd Lact.

éProfitability

2

Transition PhaseEfficiency and Cost of Growth

Age, months

BW In

crea

se, %

Pre

viou

s BW

Kertz et al, 1998

3

Feed

Cos

t per

Kg

BW G

aine

d, $

The “Post-Weaning Slump”

Days relative to weaning

Ave

rage

Dai

ly G

ain,

kg/

dAdpated from Terré et al, 2006

4

Weaning

10/23/17

2

Transition PeriodAdaptations

Pre-Ruminant

Glucose and Fatty Acids

16% Body O2

GlycolysisKetogenesis

Ruminant

Short Chain Fatty Acids

26% Body O2

GluconeogenesisUreagenesis

Hepatic Metabolism

Post-absorptive Nutrient Supply

Baldwin et al., 2004Huntington and Archibeque, 1999

Rumen 30% forestomach Rumen 70% forestomachGIT

Development

Donkin and Hammon, 20055

Amino Acids Non-protein Nitrogen

B-Vitamins and Choline

Micronutrients

Water-soluble: No stored

Do not supply energy or protein but help with their metabolism

Enzymatic cofactors

=

Metabolic Facilitators

B1 Thiamin: Energy metabolism

B2 Riboflavin: Redox reactions (FAD, FMN)

B3 Niacin: 200 reactions (NAD, NADP)

B5 Pantothenic Acid: Fatty Acid metabolism

B6 Pyridoxine: Protein metabolism

B7 Biotin: Carboxylation

B9 Folic Acid: Single-Carbon metabolism

B12 AA, C3 and Single-Carbon metabolism

Choline: Single-Carbon metabolism,

Cellular membrane structure

6

Intermediary MetabolismTransition Calf

B6

Non Essential

AA

Ammonia

EssentialAA

N-Free residue

Methionine cycle Folate

cycle

Choline

Cys

Gly

SAM

Met

B9

B12

B3

B3B2

B6

B6

B6

One-Carbon Metabolism Ureagenesis

De novoFatty AcidSynthesis

Gluconeogenesis

Protein Synthesis

Molano, unpublished

B12

7

B-Vitamins In RuminantsRuminal Synthesis

Bechdel et al., 1928

RuminantsSynthetized by

Rumen MicrobesTrue

Deficiencies Uncommon

Ruminal Synthesis and Escape of

Dietary Sources Meet B-Vitamin Requirements

NRC, 2001

B2

B1

B3

B5

B6B7

B9

B12

?

8

10/23/17

3

Transition Calf: B-vitamins Sufficient?Folic Acid

9

B9

éBlood Hemoglobin

éBlood Packed Cell Vol.

Adapted from Dumoulin et al., 1991

Facilitating Transition to RuminantNutritional Strategies

Question of Study

Are B-vitamins and Choline limiting performance during the transition

period?

10

B2

B1

B3

B5

B6B7

B9

B12

?

B-Vitamins and Choline in RuminantsRuminal Degradation

Zinn et al. 1987Sharma and Erdman, 1989Santschi et al. 2005 Girard et al., 2010Castagnino et al. 2015

Rumen Protected Forms of B-Vitamins:

CholineErdam and Sharma, 1991;

Pinotti et al., 2003

PyridoxineBonomi et al, 1998

Folic AcidBonomi et al, 2003

BlendsSacadura et al., 2008

11

Experimental Design

CURC 61 d 1 d 90

d 63

Weaning

d 49Milk Replacer 28% CP 15% Fat1.6 kg Solids/d Max, 3X/d

Calf Starter Ad LibitumFormulated with CNCPS v 7.0

Treatments (Estimated Req.)Provided orally every day

Measurements / SamplingDaily DMI (MR & Starter)

WeeklyBody Weight and HeightBlood

RoutinelyMilk ReplacerCalf Starter

12

d 21

No B-Vitamin or Choline

Unprotected B-Vitamin & Choline Blend

Rumen Protected B-Vitamin & Choline Blend

10/23/17

4

Statistical Analysis

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13Week

Period Preweaning PostweaningWeaning

Blood parametersBody weightHeight

Yijlk= TRTi + Wkj + TRT:Wkij + Wk3l + Calfk + Eijlk

Yi= TRTi + EiIntakesRates of growthFeed Efficiency “lm ()” and “lmer ()” Functions

13

Protein SynthesisB-Vitamin and AA are Interrelated

14

Adapted from CK-12 HS Biology Textbook

Amino Acid Balance

AA Requirements Van Amburgh et al., 2015

CNCPS v7. AA Supply predictionsHiggs and Van Amburgh., 2016

Ingredient composition (% of DM) Starter Item Starter Milk replacer Whole Milk

DM, % 86.6 94.7Pellet

Treated soybean meal 19.8Chemical composition (% of DM)

Wheat middlings 19.3 Crude protein 25.5 28.5Canola meal solvent 6.6 Crude fat 2.96 15Dextrose 3.3 aNDFom 25.1 -Dried whey 5.9 Starch 17.8 -Blood meal 4.0 Soluble fiber 6.36 -Methionine analog 0.7 Sugars 14.1 -Minerals 1.8 Ash 8.18 -Fat 0.7 Calcium 0.96 1Vitamin ADE premix 0.3 Phosphorus 0.63 0.71Monensin 0.03 Cobalt, mg/kg 1.4 1.22Flavor/odor enhancer 0.1 Vitamin A, IU/kg3 7,273 16,530Pellet Binder 1.0 Vitamin D, IU/kg3 2,424 5,510

Flaked corn 20.1 Vitamin E, IU/kg3 29.9 110.2Beet pulp shreds 13.2 ME, Mcal/kg 2.5 4.6Molasses 3.3 B-Vitamin concentration (mg/kg DM)

Thiamin 3.9 17.3 3.3Riboflavin 5.3 29.9 12.2Niacin 75.6 152 9.5Pantothenic acid 14.4 91.7 25.9Pyridoxine 4.19 9.36 4.4Biotin 0.57 0.85 0.3Folates 0.89 1.04 0.56Vitamin B12 0.005 0.096 0.05

Choline, mg/kg DM 1,260 1,600 1,080

TreatmentsB-Vitamin and Choline Requirement Estimation

1. Whole Milk B-Vitamin concentration as a base

2. Extrapolation of Niacin and Pyridoxinefrom Swine (BW0.75 basis)

3. Adjustment of Folic acidand B12 considering published studies

16

Dumoulin et al., 1991Lévesque et al., 1993Graulet et al., 2007

NRC, 2012

10/23/17

5

100

250

500

750

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

GrainDMIcorrespondingtovitamindose,g

Capsules assembled and administered:

4,823

Rumen Protected

BlendRPBV

NonProtected

BlendUPBV

PlaceboCTRL

Fat

RPBV

UPBV

CTRL

0.28 % DMIFrom starter

B-VitCho

B-VitCho

Fat Fat

0.39 % DMI from starter

TreatmentsB-vitamin and Choline Blends Supplementation

17

AnimalsDams and Calves

18

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

DM

I, Kg

DM

/d

Age, wk

CTRLUPBVRPBV

ResultsDry Matter and Energy Intake

Milk replacer

Starter

1.6 kg DM/d offered

WeaningP > 0.35

19

0.81

1.21.41.61.8

22.22.42.62.8

33.23.43.63.8

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Esti

mat

edin

take

of T

reat

emen

tsov

er th

e C

ontr

ol

Age, weeks

Thiamin

Riboflavin

Niacin - Biotin

Pantothenic acid

Pyridoxine

Folic acid

Choline

Weaning

ResultsB-vitamins and Choline Intake

20

10/23/17

6

Vitamin B12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Estim

ated

inta

keof

Tre

atem

ents

over

the

Con

trol

Age, weeks

ResultsVitamin B12 Intake

Weaning

21

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

90

110

130

150

170

190

210

230

250

270

290

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Plas

ma

fola

te, n

g/m

L

Plas

ma

Vita

min

B12,

pg/

mL

Age, weeks

a

ab

b

x

xy

y

CTRLUPBVRPBV

What happened to the additional RP Folic acid?

Rapidly cleared?

Not released at its site of absorption?

a and b differ P < 0.1x and y differ P < 0.05

Ruminal synthesis diminished effect of supplementation?

Supplements Effectiveness:UPBV was not completely degradedRPBV was released in the intestine

Appropriate rumen conditions for Vitamin B12 synthesis- pH- Cobalt levels

ResultsPlasma Vitamin B12 and Folate

Weaning

Mature heifers on pastureGrace et al., 2014

1 mg free Folic acid/kg BW Girard et al., 1992

22

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Plas

ma

BHB,

mM

ol/L

Age, weeks

11

13

15

17

19

21

23

25

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Plas

ma

Ure

aN

itrog

en, m

g/dL

Age, weeks

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

Hem

atoc

rit, %

blo

odvo

lum

e

Weaning

Weaning

ResultsOther Blood Parameters

CTRLUPBVRPBV CTRL

UPBVRPBV

P = 0.71

P = 0.69

P = 0.59

23

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Wei

ght,

kg

Hei

ght,

cm

Age, wk

Weaning

Birth weight: 42.8 kg

84.6 kg

133.7 kg

2X Birth Weight

3X Birth Weight

ResultsBody Weight and Stature

Hip

Shoulders

Body Weight

CTRLUPBVRPBV

P > 0.20

24

10/23/17

7

ResultsBody Weight and Stature

0.5

0.7

0.9

1.1

1.3

1.5

1.7

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Ave

rage

Dai

ly G

ain,

kg/

d

Age, weeks

Weaning

ResultsAverage Daily Gain

CTRLUPBVRPBV

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Cru

dePr

otei

n, g

/d

Met

abol

izab

le E

nerg

yin

take

, Mca

l/d

Age, weeks

Weaning

CTRLUPBVRPBV

ME

Crude Protein

P > 0.45 P > 0.53

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

ResultsFeed Efficiency

Preweaning

Ave

rage

Dai

ly G

ain/

Dry

Mat

ter I

ntak

e

Weaning Post-Weaning

CTRLUPBVRPBVSmith, 2002Eckert et al., 2015

Amino Acid Balancing?

P > 0.45

27

Why were our results different?

28

Other nutrients sufficiency?

50% DM/d from liquid feed offeredWeaned calves 2 wks earlier

Solid feed 17% CP

The B-vitamin and choline requirements depend on the levels of several nutrients

in the diet McDowell, 2000

Dumoulin et al., 1991

Enrichment with a mixture offolic acid, B2 and B6 resulted in a partial

reverse of growth suppression caused by a reduced protein diet

Debski et al., 2006

10/23/17

8

Conclusions

29

Dairy calves could obtain sufficient B-vitamins and choline from the diet

and rumen synthesis to support optimal performance.

B2B1 B3

B5B6

B7B9

B12

ChoNo,Under the conditions

of this study

Question of Study

Are B-vitamins and Choline limiting performance during the transition

period?

Days relative to weaning

Ave

rage

Dai

ly G

ain,

Kg/

d

Adpated from Terré et al, 200630

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

0.9 kg DM MR/d MaxWeaned Earlier (46 d)Weaning shorter and less gradual

”Post-weaning Slump” can be Reduced

Acknowledgments

Dr. Essi EvansTechnical Advisory Services

Jeff TikofskyPurina Animal Nutrition, LLC

Van Amburgh Lab

Supporters

31

Lauren HillSarah Hetrick

Courtney HoffAlanna Staffin

CURC Staff

CURC

ZenRakuRen