Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the direct precursor to creatine, which serves as an energy reserve mechanism in the body. We evaluated the effects of GAA supplementation on the growth performance of calves fed milk replacer. Forty-five Holstein–Angus steer calves (40.9 kg, approximately 1 week old) w...

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Main Authors: Kathryn J. Hazlewood, Charles A. Zumbaugh, Cassandra K. Jones, Emily M. Atkinson, Hannah L. R. Tingler, Vivienne K. Inhuber, Micheal J. Brouk, Reshma M. Antony, Evan C. Titgemeyer
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/19/2757
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author Kathryn J. Hazlewood
Charles A. Zumbaugh
Cassandra K. Jones
Emily M. Atkinson
Hannah L. R. Tingler
Vivienne K. Inhuber
Micheal J. Brouk
Reshma M. Antony
Evan C. Titgemeyer
author_facet Kathryn J. Hazlewood
Charles A. Zumbaugh
Cassandra K. Jones
Emily M. Atkinson
Hannah L. R. Tingler
Vivienne K. Inhuber
Micheal J. Brouk
Reshma M. Antony
Evan C. Titgemeyer
author_sort Kathryn J. Hazlewood
collection DOAJ
description Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the direct precursor to creatine, which serves as an energy reserve mechanism in the body. We evaluated the effects of GAA supplementation on the growth performance of calves fed milk replacer. Forty-five Holstein–Angus steer calves (40.9 kg, approximately 1 week old) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments to assess growth performance and data from 41 calves were analyzed. Treatments were provided in the milk replacer for 42 d and included 0, 1, or 2 g GAA/d. Calves were fed 2.84 L milk replacer twice daily with ad libitum access to starter feed and water. Treatments ended on day 42 prior to a 17-day weaning period. Supplementation of GAA increased (<i>p</i> < 0.01) plasma concentrations of GAA (0.42, 0.51, and 0.67 mg/L for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively) and creatine (18.7, 22.1, and 24.4 mg/L for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Bodyweight tended to linearly increase (<i>p</i> = 0.09) with increasing GAA on d 59 (91.2, 98.3, and 98.6 kg for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Daily gains from day 0 to 59 tended to increase with GAA provision (<i>p</i> = 0.09; 0.86, 0.97, and 0.98 kg/d for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Starter feed dry matter intake tended to linearly increase (<i>p</i> = 0.06) with GAA supplementation (0.201, 0.278, and 0.286 kg/d for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Treatments providing 1 and 2 g GAA/d affected performance similarly. No differences among treatments were observed for health (respiratory and fecal) scores during the application of treatments or during the subsequent weaning period. The inclusion of GAA in milk replacer tended to increase the gain of calves, and this was associated with elevated starter feed intake.
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spelling doaj-art-5fe662f212334eefb7b19ec1f96bbce22025-08-20T01:47:44ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-09-011419275710.3390/ani14192757Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk ReplacerKathryn J. Hazlewood0Charles A. Zumbaugh1Cassandra K. Jones2Emily M. Atkinson3Hannah L. R. Tingler4Vivienne K. Inhuber5Micheal J. Brouk6Reshma M. Antony7Evan C. Titgemeyer8Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAAlzchem Trostberg GmbH, 83308 Trostberg, GermanyDepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAGuanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the direct precursor to creatine, which serves as an energy reserve mechanism in the body. We evaluated the effects of GAA supplementation on the growth performance of calves fed milk replacer. Forty-five Holstein–Angus steer calves (40.9 kg, approximately 1 week old) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments to assess growth performance and data from 41 calves were analyzed. Treatments were provided in the milk replacer for 42 d and included 0, 1, or 2 g GAA/d. Calves were fed 2.84 L milk replacer twice daily with ad libitum access to starter feed and water. Treatments ended on day 42 prior to a 17-day weaning period. Supplementation of GAA increased (<i>p</i> < 0.01) plasma concentrations of GAA (0.42, 0.51, and 0.67 mg/L for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively) and creatine (18.7, 22.1, and 24.4 mg/L for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Bodyweight tended to linearly increase (<i>p</i> = 0.09) with increasing GAA on d 59 (91.2, 98.3, and 98.6 kg for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Daily gains from day 0 to 59 tended to increase with GAA provision (<i>p</i> = 0.09; 0.86, 0.97, and 0.98 kg/d for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Starter feed dry matter intake tended to linearly increase (<i>p</i> = 0.06) with GAA supplementation (0.201, 0.278, and 0.286 kg/d for 0, 1, and 2 g GAA/d, respectively). Treatments providing 1 and 2 g GAA/d affected performance similarly. No differences among treatments were observed for health (respiratory and fecal) scores during the application of treatments or during the subsequent weaning period. The inclusion of GAA in milk replacer tended to increase the gain of calves, and this was associated with elevated starter feed intake.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/19/2757creatinegrowthguanidinoacetic acidsteers
spellingShingle Kathryn J. Hazlewood
Charles A. Zumbaugh
Cassandra K. Jones
Emily M. Atkinson
Hannah L. R. Tingler
Vivienne K. Inhuber
Micheal J. Brouk
Reshma M. Antony
Evan C. Titgemeyer
Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
Animals
creatine
growth
guanidinoacetic acid
steers
title Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
title_full Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
title_fullStr Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
title_short Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer
title_sort effect of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on the performance of calves fed milk replacer
topic creatine
growth
guanidinoacetic acid
steers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/19/2757
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