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Effects of Solid Feed on Rumen p H and Molecular Adaptations in Dairy Calves

Effects of Solid Feed on Rumen p H and Molecular Adaptations in Dairy Calves. Anne Laarman, M.Sc. Ph.D. Student University of Guelph alaarman@uoguelph.ca. Rumen Development. Protein. Acidotic pressure. Starter. VFAs (incl. butyrate). Epithelium. Rumen Development.

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Effects of Solid Feed on Rumen p H and Molecular Adaptations in Dairy Calves

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  1. Effects of Solid Feed on Rumen pH and Molecular Adaptations in Dairy Calves Anne Laarman, M.Sc. Ph.D. Student University of Guelph alaarman@uoguelph.ca

  2. Rumen Development Protein Acidotic pressure Starter VFAs (incl. butyrate) Epithelium

  3. Rumen Development • With low pH, fermentation bacteria start to die off Protein Acidotic pressure Starter VFAs (incl. butyrate) Epithelium

  4. Calf Starter Study Milk Hay Starter Weaning Milk Hay Weaning • Experiment set-up for investigating the role of calf starter in rumen pH and metabolic adaptations

  5. Small Ruminant pH Logger System

  6. Dosing Small Ruminant pH Logger System

  7. Sample pH Results Duration of Acidosis (pH < 5.8) pH Area under the curve (pH < 5.8) Time of Day

  8. Hay DMI and Average Rumen pH • Calves that consume more hay have a higher rumen pH Laarman et al., 2012. In press

  9. Hay intake and Severity of Rumen Acidosis • Calves that consume very little hay are at greater risk of more rumen acidosis (pH < 5.8) Laarman and Oba, 2011

  10. Rumen pH profile • Hay consumption appears unrelated to calf starter intake Laarman and Oba, 2011

  11. Forage Consumption • Hay intake increases with age • Doesn’t appear directly related to feeding program De Passillé et al., 2011

  12. Rumen pH profile • Despite higher VFA concentrations, calves fed calf starter did not have lower rumen pH Laarman and Oba, 2011

  13. Adaptations in the Rumen Epithelium • Changes in gene expression suggest epithelium is adapting on a metabolic level Laarman et al., 2012

  14. Adaptations don’t just happen in the rumen epithelium, but also in the liver

  15. Urea Cycle - Liver • Calf starter increases gene expression of 4 out of 5 urea cycle genes Laarman et al., 2012. In press

  16. Conclusion • Feeding solid feed can affect gene expression in rumen epithelium and liver • pH regulation in epithelium • Urea cycle in liver • Roughage can help manage rumen pH • Developing rumen adapts to increased acidotic pressure from calf starter fermentation

  17. Acknowledgements • Dr. Tom Wright, University of Guelph • Dr. Brian McBride, University of Guelph • Dr. Masahito Oba, University of Alberta • OMAFRA HQP Program • Japanese Federation of Dairy Co-Ops • Agriculture and AgriFood Canada

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