The effect of corn grain micronization on diet digestibility and blood biochemical parameters in weaned Holstein calves

Aim of study: To evaluate corn grain micronization for calves fed a grower diet. Area of study: Padinska Skela – Belgrade, Serbia. Material and methods: Thirty weaned Holstein dairy calves (65–74 days of age) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments with growers containing micronized (MCG) or untreated corn grain (UCG). The experimental period lasted for 60 days. Main results: The values of total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) were higher for calves fed MCG versus those within the UCG treatment by 3.9% (p<0.05), 7.0% (p<0.01), 7.1% (p<0.01) and 7.5% (p<0.05), respectively, for the days 25–30 of the experimental period. In addition, the values of digestibility of OM, CP, and NFC were higher by 4.9% (p<0.05), 5.7% (p<0.05), and 6.0% (p<0.05), respectively, for the days 55–60 of the experimental period. The density of metabolizable energy, net energy for maintenance and gain in consumed dietary DM was higher (p<0.001) by 4.7, 5.5, and 7.2%, respectively for calves fed on the grower containing micronized corn grain (MCG), during the first digestibility period, and by 3.0, 3.6, and 4.6%, respectively, during the second digestibility period. Energy intake was lower (p<0.05) during the second digestibility period, for calves fed a diet with micronized corn. Blood urea N was affected (p<0.001) by dietary treatments. Lower values (10.2%) were observed for calves fed the grower containing MCG. Research highlights: The micronization of corn grain is a useful tool for optimizing weaned calf production due to the improvement in the digestibility and energy content of the ration.