Fecal microbiota succession in dairy calves is driven by age and modestly influenced by colostrum source Gercino Ferreira Virginio Júnior, Cristiane Regina Tomaluski, Sophia Cattleya Dondé, Ana Paula da Silva, Ariany Faria de Toledo, Lucas William Mendes, Horácio Montenegro, Luiz Lehmann Coutinho, Carla Maris Machado Bittar Scientific Reports, 2026 Colostrum is crucial for the survival and health of neonatal calves, providing passive immunity and influencing early gut microbial colonization. This study evaluated the impact of three colostrum sources: fresh maternal colostrum (FMC), frozen maternal colostrum (FC), and colostrum replacer (CR) on the development of the fecal microbiota in Holstein calves. Fifteen newborn calves were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (n = 5 per group). Fecal samples were collected at birth (meconium), daily during the first seven days of life, and at weeks 2, 4, 8 (weaning), and 10 (post-weaning). Microbial composition was assessed using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Alpha diversity increased over time (P < 0.001), with no significant differences observed among treatments. Microbiota succession followed a consistent trajectory across all groups, characterized by an early dominance of Escherichia/Shigella, which gradually transitioned to increased relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium over time. Notably, calves fed FMC showed a significantly higher fecal relative abundance of Lactobacillus during the first three days of life (excluding day 0, meconium) compared to those receiving FC (P = 0.046) or CR (P = 0.44), although the overall bacterial community structure was primarily influenced by calf age. These findings suggest that while colostrum source does not impact overall microbial diversity, it may modulate early colonization by beneficial bacteria. Providing fresh maternal colostrum may promote more favorable microbiota programming during the neonatal period.
Sugarcane Polyphenols as a Nutritional Strategy to Reduce Somatic Cell Count and Preserve Milk and Yogurt Characteristics Elizangela Domenis Marino, Gercino Ferreira Virgínio Júnior, Ariany Faria de Toledo, Izally Carvalho Gervásio, Simara Larissa Fanalli, Carlos Eduardo Cardoso de Aguiar Freire, Samuel Ferreira Gonçalves, Carolina de Souza Moreira, Matthew Flavel, Luiz Carlos Roma Júnior, Weber Vilas Bôas Soares, Aline Silva Mello Cesar, Carla Maris Machado Bittar Dairy, 2026 The present study evaluated the effects of sugarcane-derived polyphenol nutritional supplement on milk production, milk composition, and somatic cell count (SCC) in lactating Holstein cows. A second objective was to evaluate the quality and stability of yogurt produced with milk from supplemented cows. Sixteen cows (20 ± 2 L/d milk, 120 ± 21 days in milk, 550 ± 82 kg body weight) were assigned to either a control group or a polyphenol-supplemented group in a randomized block design for a six-week evaluation period. Milk yield and individual milk samples for composition analysis (fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids, casein, free fatty acids, and milk urea nitrogen) were recorded weekly, and only SCC was monitored three times per week. Yogurt was produced from pooled milk of each treatment and evaluated for fermentation parameters (pH, titratable acidity), shelf life, and sensory attributes were evaluated using a triangle test (discriminative sensory analysis). Polyphenol supplementation did not significantly affect milk yield or composition (p > 0.05), but reduced SCC considerably (238 × 103 vs. 593 × 103 cells/mL; p < 0.01). Yogurt fermentation and storage parameters were not significantly affected by supplementation, although pH and titratable acidity changed considerably over time (p < 0.01). Sensory analysis indicated that only 37.3% of panelists correctly identified differences between yogurts, which did not differ from chance expectation in the triangle test. These results demonstrate that polyphenol supplementation can improve udder health, evidenced by reduced SCC, without compromising milk yield, composition, or yogurt quality. Polyphenols thus represent a promising nutritional supplement for enhancing dairy cow health and maintaining product quality.
Effects of sugarcane-derived polyphenol supplementation on ruminal fermentation, methane emission, and microbiome in Holstein cows Elizangela Domenis Marino, Ariany Faria de Toledo, Gercino Ferreira Virgínio Júnior, Lucas William Mendes, Weber Vilas Bôas Soares, Luiz Carlos Roma Júnior, Carla Maris Machado Bittar Frontiers in Animal Science, 2026 The use of plant-derived polyphenols in ruminant nutrition has garnered attention as a natural approach to enhance fermentation efficiency, mitigate methane emissions, and improve animal health. This study evaluated the effects of sugarcane‐derived polyphenol supplementation on ruminal fermentation, methane emission, blood parameters, and the ruminal microbiome of lactating Holstein cows. Sixteen cows were assigned to two treatments: Control (50 mL/d placebo) or Polyphenol (50 mL/d sugarcane polyphenol extract). Ruminal fluid was analyzed for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and ammonia-N, blood was analyzed for selected metabolites, methane emissions were measured using the SF6 technique, and microbial diversity and composition were assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Polyphenol supplementation increased total SCFA concentration from 58.44 to 66.44 ± 3.00 mM (P = 0.08) and raised the molar proportion of propionate from 18.13 to 18.89 ± 0.29 mM/100 mM (P = 0.08). Blood glucose concentrations were significantly higher in supplemented cows, whereas other blood parameters were unaffected. Methane emissions did not differ between groups. Microbial community analyses revealed no effect on alpha diversity measures (Shannon index and richness), but an impact of treatment and time in beta diversity, with polyphenol supplementation associated with selective shifts in bacterial taxa, including greater relative abundance of Planctomycetota. These findings indicate that sugarcane‐derived polyphenols can beneficially modulate ruminal fermentation and microbial community structure without compromising microbial diversity. The increase in propionate and blood glucose suggests enhanced glucogenic potential, while unchanged methane emissions highlight the need for further studies to clarify the conditions under which sugarcane polyphenols may mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Effect of water quality on performance and health of dairy calves N.I. Carvalho, I.C.R. Oliveira, A.F. Toledo, R.D.F. Barboza, J.G. Dantas, M.J. Prado, E.D. Marino, P.H.C. Ribeiro, C.M.M. Bittar Journal of Dairy Science, 2026 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.
Performance, Health, and Behavioral Responses of Pre-Weaned Calves to Different Liquid Diets and Physical Forms of Starter Mohammad Mortazavi, Cristiane Tomaluski, Elizangela Marino, Julia Feliciano, Jeniffer Alvarado-Castro, Ingred Rocha de Oliveira, Nathalia Carvalho, Carla Bittar Dairy, 2025 This study examines the critical role of whole milk or milk replacer as a liquid diet (LD) with 15% solids in combination with different physical forms of starter as a solid diet (SD), on performance, health, and behavior of pre-weaned calves. Sixty male Holstein calves were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design, and randomly distributed into the following treatments: Whole milk powder diluted to 12.5% of solids and enriched with 25 g/L of milk replacer to achieve 15% solids, associated with either micropelleted stater (WM+micro) or texturized stater (WM+text); milk replacer diluted to 15% solids associated with either micropelleted stater (MRmicro) or texturized stater (MRtext). Starter intake and, consequently, total DMI were higher in the MRtext treatment compared to WM+micro. Calves fed texturized starter showed higher DMI, starter intake time, and rumination time. Calves in the WM+Text group showed greater ADG compared with MR treatments, regardless of starter type. Calves fed WM+ presented a lower number of days with fecal score ≥2, and the first day of diarrhea occurred at older ages. Calves fed MR showed more health challenges but similar feed efficiency with WM+, while texturized starter increased intake, eating duration, and rumination compared with micropelleted starter.
Pair housing benefits performance and activity of dairy calves with influences of season J. Bonney-King, E.E. Lindner, C.M.M. Bittar, E.K. Miller-Cushon Journal of Dairy Science, 2025 The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of social housing on calf performance and activity within different seasons. Within 24 h of birth, Holstein heifer calves were assigned to either individual (IH; n = 50 pens) or pair housing (PH; n = 50 pens), balanced across seasons in a humid subtropical climate (cool season, mid-October to mid-April, 17 ± 5°C, mean ± SD, and warm season, mid-April to mid-October, 26 ± 3°C, temperature-humidity index consistently >65). Calves received 8 L/d of milk replacer, until gradual weaning over 10 d beginning at 43 ± 3 d of age, and calf starter and water ad libitum. The presence of fever (≥39.4°C) and scours (fecal consistency assessed visually at the pen level) were assessed 5 d/wk. Calves were weighed at birth, before and after weaning, and 1 wk postweaning. Pen-level starter intake was recorded 4 d/wk. Standing time was determined using leg-based accelerometers. Calves born in the cool season scoured later and for fewer days, with no effect of social housing. Fever presentation was similarly reduced in the cool season, in interaction with housing treatment; fewer PH than IH calves had a fever in the cool season. Calves in PH pens consumed more starter by wk 5 of life, had greater ADG pre- and postweaning, and had greater BW by the end of weaning, compared to IH calves. Some performance advantages attributed to PH were most apparent in the cool season, including starter intake during weaning (+0.17 kg/d; SE = 0.021) and postweaning ADG (+0.35 kg/d; SE = 0.1). Calves in PH pens maintained greater BW 1 wk postweaning, with no effect of season. Calves in PH pens spent more time standing, particularly in the evening, with daily peaks in activity falling later in the day during the warm season. These results support clear benefits of housing dairy calves in pairs from birth, alongside evidence that performance advantages attributed to social housing may be enhanced in cool weather or dampened by heat stress.
Multi-Mycotoxin Contamination of Concentrates Fed to Dairy Calves in Southeast Brazil: A Case Report Rogério D’Antonio Pires, Aline Moreira Borowsky, Tobias Alves e Silva, Giovanna Canela Ruiz Castro Evangelista, Carla Maris Machado Bittar, Carlos Humberto Corassin Dairy, 2025 The diet of dairy calves can be contaminated with mycotoxins, posing a potential risk to animal health. This case study report aimed to make the first assessment of the presence of multiple mycotoxins in concentrates fed to dairy calves in Brazil. A total of 19 concentrate samples intended for dairy calves were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin were not detected in any samples, whereas fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) were present in 100% of the samples, with mean concentrations of 2750.1 μg/kg and 834.9 μg/kg, respectively. Zearalenone (ZEN) was detected in 36.8% of samples, with a mean concentration of 929.9 μg/kg. Significant correlations were observed between FB1 and FB2 (ρ = 0.978; p < 0.001) and between FB2 and ZEN (ρ = 0.735; p = 0.05). While the physical form of the concentrate did not influence (p > 0.05) mycotoxin concentrations, a trend was observed for FB1 (ρ = −0.417; p = 0.07) and FB2 (ρ = −0.395; p = 0.09). These findings highlight the frequent occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins, likely due to pre-harvest contamination, emphasizing the potential risk of additive or synergistic effects in dairy calves.
On-farm approaches to increase whole-milk total solids: Effects on performance and health of dairy calves Amanda M. Cezar, Ana Paula da Silva, Ariany F. de Toledo, Cristiane R. Tomaluski, Sophia C. Dondé, Gercino F. Virgínio Júnior, Marcos I. Marcondes, Carla M.M. Bittar Jds Communications, 2025 This study aimed to evaluate the performance, metabolism, and health of Holstein calves fed whole milk adjusted for 15% TS by adding a commercial solids corrector (245 g/kg CP, 48 g/kg crude fat, 90 g/kg of mineral, and 3 g/kg of ADF) using 2 practical approaches: daily adjustment based on a Brix refractometer reading, or the addition of a fixed amount of the corrector based on mean milk solids content. Thirty newborn male Holstein calves were assigned to one of the 2 treatments: (1) fixed, in which whole-milk solids were adjusted using a fixed dose of 25 g/L, and (2) Brix, in which whole-milk solids were adjusted based on a daily Brix refractometer reading. Treatments were randomly assigned within blocks formed based on BW and birth date (2 calves per block). The experimental period lasted 56 d, during which calves were fed 6 L/d of the respective liquid diet and had free access to water and starter concentrate. Daily adjustments based on the Brix refractometer reading improved total liquid diet, as well as protein and lactose intake. However, calf performance and health indicators did not differ between treatments. Total serum protein concentration was greater in calves fed milk corrected using the fixed dose. Additionally, creatinine concentration was influenced by the interaction between treatment and age, with a trend toward greater concentrations in calves fed milk adjusted using the daily Brix refractometer reading at 2 wk of age. Overall, both strategies for increasing TS in whole milk (Brix refractometer and fixed dose) resulted in comparable performance and health outcomes and may serve as practical on-farm approaches for managing dairy calves.
Supplementation with selenium, iron, and vitamin E in calves under immunological challenge Márcia S. V. Salles, Fábio J. F. Figueiroa, Carla M. M. Bittar, Viviani Gomes, Raquel S. Marques, Julia A. G da Silveira, Elias J. Facury Filho, José Esler de Freitas, Arlindo Saran Netto Frontiers in Animal Science, 2025 IntroductionThe management and nutrition of young calves are important for the production system due to their great impact on future milk production potential. This study was to evaluate the performance and health of calves in the suckling phase, with supplementation of selenium, iron, and vitamin E while undergoing immunological challenge with Anaplasma marginale.MethodsAn experiment was conducted on an experimental farm using 42 newborn Holstein male calves, aged up to 60 days, in a completely randomized design, and they were assigned to the following three treatments: C (control milk replacer, N = 14); SeVitE (milk replacer supplemented with 0.6 mg organic selenium/kg + 100 IU vitamin E, N = 14); SeVitEFe (milk replacer supplemented with 0.6 mg organic selenium/kg + 100 IU vitamin E + 200 mg Fe chelate/kg, N = 14).ResultsSelenium, iron, and vitamin E intakes were higher in supplemented animals. The mean blood count of Anaplasma marginale was lower in supplemented calves compared to controls and increased with time after inoculation. Increased serum selenium was observed in supplemented calves, without vitamin E and iron changes. Plasma lactate concentration was lower in supplemented animals and those with SeVitEFe had lower urea concentration at 60 days compared to control. Treatments did not influence hematological parameters, while some only changed with the age of animals. Plasma glutathione peroxidase concentrations were higher in supplemented animals, with the interaction between treatment and time, where higher concentrations were observed at 40 days of experiment for supplemented calves compared to control. Treatments did not influence the performance of animals. Animals with SeVitEFe showed a lower incidence of diarrhea in the first thirty days of the experiment.DiscussionSupplementation of selenium, iron, and vitamin E showed effectiveness in improving the animals’ oxidative metabolism, altering biochemical and hematological parameters, and reducing the pathogens of Anaplasma marginale, and the incidence of diarrhea, but did not enhance the animals’ performance.
Does algae β-glucan affect the fecal bacteriome in dairy calves? Gercino Ferreira Virginio Junior, Maria Eduarda Reis, Ana Paula da Silva, Ariany Faria de Toledo, Amanda Moelemberg Cezar, Lucas William Mendes, Leandro Greco, Horácio Montenegro, Luiz Lehmann Coutinho, Carla Maris Machado Bittar Plos One, 2021
Forage variety and maturity on fermentative losses of sugarcane silages added with urea International Silage Conference < 2005, Belfast, Northern Ireland>, Park, R. S., Stronge, M. D., International Grassland Congress < 2005, Belfast, Northern Ireland> Silage Production and Utilisation Proceedings of the Xivth International Silage Conference A Satellite Workshop of the Xxth International Grassland Congress July 2005 Belfast Northern Ireland, 2005
