Prepartum supplementation of Ascophyllum nodosum meal or ethylenediamine dihydroiodide: Effects on colostrum yield and growth and health of dairy calves

We aimed to evaluate the effects of prepartum supplementation of different I sources (Ascophyllum nodosum [ASCO] meal and ethylenediamine dihydroiodide [EDDI]) on colostrum yield, blood concentrations of glucose, BHB, and thyroid hormones, and growth of dairy calves. Forty multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by lactation number and expected calving date and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments 28 d before parturition: (1) EDDI supplemented (11 mg/d) to a basal diet to meet the NRC (2001) I concentration of 0.5 mg of I/kg of DMI (control = CON [0 g/d of ASCO meal]; actual I concentration = 0.68 mg/kg of DMI); (2) CON plus 57 g/d of ASCO meal (low seaweed supplementation = LSW); (3) CON plus 113 g/d of ASCO meal (high seaweed supplementation = HSW); or (4) CON plus 151.3 mg/d of EDDI formulated to match the amount of I provided by HSW (high EDDI = HEDDI). Forty-one calves were blocked based on their dams' treatments and received 300 g of IgG via colostrum replacer immediately after birth. At 24 h after calving, calves were offered (DM basis) 676 g of milk replacer (25.3% CP, 16.5% fat) until d 49 and 338 g until weaning. Free-choice texturized starter (28.2% CP) and water were offered ad libitum from 24 h to 8 wk of life. Blood samples were collected for analyses of IgG (0 h and 24 h of age), thyroid hormones (d 14, 28, and 56 of age), and BHB (weekly). On d 5 of life, a xylose challenge was conducted by supplementing 0.5 g of d-xylose/kg of BW, with blood samples taken over a 12-h period. Weekly skeletal and BW measurements were also recorded. The concentration of colostral fat was greater in HSW than HEDDI cows, and it tended to increase linearly with ASCO meal supplementation. Although I intake increased linearly with feeding incremental amounts of ASCO meal to close-up cows, the transfer of I from feed to colostrum decreased quadratically. Neither I intake nor colostral I transfer efficiency changed when feeding HSW versus HEDDI. Calves born to HSW dams had a greater initial BW and final hip height, as well as tendencies for greater weekly hip height and final withers height compared with HEDDI calves. Calf BW gain tended to decrease linearly with ASCO meal supplementation. The 24-h apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG tended to increase in HSW versus HEDDI calves. Plasma glucose concentration on d 5 of life decreased linearly in response to incremental levels of ASCO meal. Furthermore, the plasma concentration of biweekly total thyroxin and whole-blood concentrations of weekly BHB and final BHB responded quadratically to ASCO meal, with the lowest values observed for LSW calves. In summary, prepartum supplementation with incremental amounts of ASCO meal to close-up cows did not change colostrum composition. However, feeding HSW versus HEDDI increased colostral fat concentration and initial BW in calves.