Research Article
Mariusz Bogucki 
1, Monika Bogusławska-Tryk 2, Magdalena Stanek 2, Iwona Kuropatwińska3, Jozef Bujko 4
1Department of Animal and Nutrition Breeding, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland
2Department of Animal Physiology and Physiotherapy, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland
3Rolhod Sp. z o.o., Wąsewo 16, 88-230 Piotrków Kujawski, Poland
4Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia
Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the type of milk replacer on the production results of calf rearing and hematological and biochemical parameters of their blood. Calves (heifers) of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed, divided into two groups of 18 animals each, were maintained and fed equally, except for milk replacers used from the 31st to the 90th day of calf life. Group A received milk replacer based on skimmed milk powder, and group B received milk replacer based on whey powder. Production parameters were calculated and hematological and biochemical blood indices were determined. Better calf rearing results were found when the formula A was used. Calves, despite a lower initial weight at 30 days of age, reached a higher final weight at 90 days of rearing. There was a significantly higher number of leukocytes and erythrocytes in the blood of gorup A clves, whereas in group B there was a higher average red blood cell volume and average weight of hemoglobin in a red blood cell. In addition, there were significant differences in the levels of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in the blood of calves fed different milk replacers (P ≤ 0.05).
Keywords: calves, nutrition, milk replacer, hematology, blood biochemistry
Received: 18 Feb 2023
Accepted: 22 Apr 2023
Published online: 5 Jul 2023
Accesses: 318
Bogucki, M., Bogusławska-Tryk, M., Stanek, M., Kuropatwińska, I., Bujko, J., (2023). Effect of milk replacer on calf rearing performance and hematological and biochemical blood indices. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 22(1), 33–40. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2023.22.1.04.