Effect of replacing alfalfa hay with corn silage in the starter diet on health and blood biochemical parameters of male Holstein calves during the pre-weaning period

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing alfalfa hay (AH) with corn silage (CS) in the finely ground starter diet on health status and blood biochemical parameters of male Holstein calves during pre-weaning period. Thirty (3-d old) newborn calves (40.2 ± 1.28 kg body weight) were assigned randomly to three experimental groups receiving starter diets containing 10% (on dry matter basis) AH (Control), 5% AH and 5% CS, and 10% CS. The starter diets had the same nutrient composition but dry matter content was highest and lowest in Control and 10% CS groups, respectively. Blood concentration of albumin was higher in calves fed 5% CS diet compared with calves fed Control or 10% CS diets (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with calves on other treatments, calves on Control group were more susceptible to develop diarrhea or pneumonia (P ≤ 0.05) and thereby had lower chance to be treated. No difference was observed among treatment groups for frequency and medication days of diarrhea or pneumonia, but duration of diarrhea was higher in calves on Control group compared with other treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Based on obtained results, feeding CS containing diets (5 or 10%) to male Holstein calves during the preweaning period may have a potential to improve calf health and to decrease costs related to drugs and medication