Effect of water quality on performance and health of dairy calves

Abstract

Water quality plays a crucial role in calf health and performance, mainly when it is used to dilute milk replacers, which can affect the incidence of diarrhea. This study assessed the effects of municipal tap water (TW) compared with purified water (PW) on calf performance and health. Thirty Holstein calves were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups in a randomized block design. Calves received 6 L/d of milk replacer (14% solids) diluted with the respective water treatment until gradual weaning (49-53 d). A pelleted starter was offered from birth, and chopped hay was provided ad libitum from 49 to 70 d. Dry matter intake, water intake, and health scores were recorded daily. Average daily gain was measured weekly, whereas body measurements and blood samples were collected biweekly. The PW tended to improve feed efficiency and increased ADG in the third week of life, but the final BW did not differ between treatments. Calves that received PW consumed more hay and tended to have greater water intake. Moreover, PW reduced day with diarrhea and the number of antibiotic treatments. Blood metabolites varied primarily with age, except for higher albumin concentrations in TW calves at wk 10. In summary, the PW tended to enhance performance during preweaning, particularly after diarrhea episodes. These findings highlight the importance of water quality during early life, but further studies are needed to determine the effect on dairy calf health.