Effect of Extended Colostrum Feeding on Protein Metabolism and Performance of Pre-Ruminant Crossbred Calves

Effect of extended colostrum feeding to pre-ruminant crossbred calves(G-II), specifically on protein metabolism and body weight gain was compared with those fed on colostrum for first three days of age and thereafter with whole milk till 30 days of age(G-I). Intake and absorption of increased amounts of dietary proteins through colostrum resulted in a significant increase in plasma total protein profile in group G-II than in group G-I (on 18^th day of age). Steadily increasing levels of plasma urea nitrogen from birth to one month of age in both groups, with the rise being slightly higher in group G-II, was associated to higher protein degradation of unutilised protein. Increased levels of plasma creatinine at birth in all calves, was attributed to a reduction in GFR at birth, which in tum was reduced later as GFR of creatinine was increased; whereas the rise in plasma bilirubin levels in both groups was by virtue of heavy destruction of fetal hemoglobin. Body weight gain at fourth week of age was significantly higher in group G-II than in group G-I. These results indicated the significance of colostrum as an extended source of protein rich diet, which resulted in an overall enhancement of protein anabolism with positive nitrogen balance and increased growth performance of pre-ruminant calves.