{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T11:57:59Z","timestamp":1788263879718,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]],"date-time":"2019-12-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1576108800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Development of calves depends on prenatal and postnatal conditions. Primiparous cows were still maturing during pregnancy, which can lead to negative intrauterine conditions and affect the calf\u2019s metabolism. It is hypothesized that weaning calves at higher maturity has positive effects due to reduced metabolic stress. We aimed to evaluate effects of mothers\u2019 parity and calves\u2019 weaning age on growth performance and blood metabolites. Fifty-nine female Holstein calves (38.8 \u00b1 5.3 kg birth weight, about 8 days old) were used in a 2 \u00d7 2 factorial experiment with factors weaning age (7 vs. 17 weeks) and parity of mother (primiparous vs. multiparous cows). Calves were randomly assigned one of these four groups. Live weight, live weight gain and morphometry increased over time and were greater in calves weaned later. Metabolic indicators except total protein were interactively affected by time and weaning age. Leptin remained low in early-weaned calves born to primiparous cows, while it increased in the other groups. The results suggest that weaning more mature calves has a positive effect on body growth, and calves born to primiparous cows particularly benefit from this weaning regimen. It also enables a smooth transition from liquid to solid feed, which might reduce the associated stress of weaning.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9121132","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]],"date-time":"2019-12-12T11:06:41Z","timestamp":1576148801000},"page":"1132","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Weaning Holstein Calves at 17 Weeks of Age Enables Smooth Transition from Liquid to Solid Feed"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Sarah","family":"Schwarzkopf","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8380-5845","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Asako","family":"Kinoshita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeannette","family":"Kluess","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2032-4267","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susanne","family":"Kersten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ulrich","family":"Meyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Korinna","family":"Huber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4913-4726","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sven","family":"D\u00e4nicke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1770-5229","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jana","family":"Frahm","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E55","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(04)70061-2","article-title":"Rumen development, intestinal growth and hepatic metabolism in the pre- and postweaning ruminant","volume":"87","author":"Baldwin","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"885","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2015-9975","article-title":"Invited review: Transitioning from milk to solid feed in dairy heifers","volume":"99","author":"Khan","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.4142\/jvs.2011.12.2.151","article-title":"The stress of weaning influences serum levels of acute-phase proteins, iron-binding proteins, inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, and leukocyte subsets in Holstein calves","volume":"12","author":"Kim","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4955","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2015-10351","article-title":"Development and physiology of the rumen and the lower gut: Targets for improving gut health","volume":"99","author":"Steele","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6315","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2014-9062","article-title":"Weaning age affects growth, feed intake, gastrointestinal development and behavior in Holstein calves fed an elevated plan of nutrition during the preweaning stage","volume":"98","author":"Eckert","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8446","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2018-14559","article-title":"Different milk feeding intensities during the first 4 weeks of rearing dairy calves: Part 3: Plasma metabolomics analysis reveals long-term metabolic imprinting in Holstein heifers","volume":"101","author":"Koch","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2010-3170","article-title":"A prospective study of calf factors affecting first-lactation and lifetime milk production and age of cows when removed from the herd","volume":"94","author":"Heinrichs","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2016-11302","article-title":"Invited review: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of mortality and culling in dairy cattle","volume":"100","author":"Compton","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"USDA (2019, October 08). Dairy 2007. Heifer Calf Health and Management Practices on U.S. Dairy Operations 2010, Available online: https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/animal_health\/nahms\/dairy\/downloads\/dairy07\/Dairy07_ir_CalfHealth.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Spiekers, H., and Potthast, V. (2004). Erfolgreiche Milchviehf\u00fctterung, DLG-Verlags-GmbH. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1307","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2009-2429","article-title":"A survey of dairy calf management practices in Canada that affect animal welfare","volume":"93","author":"Vasseur","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3190","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2011-4643","article-title":"Effects of early rumen development and solid feed composition on growth performance and abomasal health in veal calves","volume":"95","author":"Berends","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2010-3441","article-title":"Weaning age of calves fed a high milk allowance by automated feeders: effects on feed, water and energy intake, behavioral sings of hunger and weight gains","volume":"94","author":"Borderas","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1543","DOI":"10.2527\/1992.7051543x","article-title":"Effects of nutrient source and time of feeding on changes in blood metabolites in young calves","volume":"70","author":"Quigley","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6475","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2014-8098","article-title":"Utilization of roughages and concentrates relative to that of milk replacer increases strongly with age in veal calves","volume":"97","author":"Berends","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1303","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(69)86744-5","article-title":"Development of the digestive and metabolic apparatus of the calf","volume":"52","author":"Huber","year":"1969","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1152\/physiol.00050.2005","article-title":"Intrauterine programming of physiological systems: Causes and consequences","volume":"21","author":"Fowden","year":"2006","journal-title":"Physiology"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1071\/RD16410","article-title":"Epidemiological evidence for metabolic programming in dairy cattle","volume":"29","author":"Opsomer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Reprod. Fertil. Dev."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2828","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(05)72963-5","article-title":"A prospective study of calf factors affecting age, body size, and body condition score at first calving of holstein dairy heifers","volume":"88","author":"Heinrichs","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/69.2.179","article-title":"Potential mechanisms of metabolic imprinting that lead to chronic disease","volume":"69","author":"Waterland","year":"1999","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nut."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Verband Deutscher Landwirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalten (VDLUFA) (1993). Volume III Die Chemische Untersuchung von Futtermitteln. Handbuch der Landwirtschaftlichen Versuchs- und Untersuchungsmethodik (VDLUFA-Methodenbuch, VDLUFA-Verlag."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livprodsci.2003.08.001","article-title":"Growth hormone induced alterations of leptin serum concentrations in dairy cows as measured by a novel enzyme immunoassay","volume":"87","author":"Sauerwein","year":"2004","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.domaniend.2012.10.004","article-title":"Development, validation, and pilot application of a semiquantitative western blot analysis and an ELISA for bovine adiponectin","volume":"44","author":"Mielenz","year":"2013","journal-title":"Domest. Anim. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"940","DOI":"10.2527\/2005.834940x","article-title":"The effect of milk intake on forage intake and growth of nursing calves","volume":"83","author":"Abdelsamei","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3096","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2016-11594","article-title":"Different milk feeding intensities during the first 4 weeks of rearing in dairy calves: Part 1: Effects on performance and production from birth over the first lactation","volume":"100","author":"Korst","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2014.09.016","article-title":"What do calves choose to eat and how do preferences affect behaviour?","volume":"161","author":"Webb","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2542","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(97)76208-8","article-title":"Using dry feed intake as a percenage of initial body weight as a weaning criterion","volume":"80","author":"Greenwood","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN19640003","article-title":"The effect of early weaning on the blood sugar and rumen acid levels of the growing calf","volume":"18","author":"Ndumbe","year":"1964","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN19800083","article-title":"A novel estimate of the magnitude of heat produced in the rumen","volume":"43","author":"Czerkawski","year":"1980","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1071\/RD06130","article-title":"Long-term effects of nutritional programming of the embryo and fetus: Mechanisms and critical windows","volume":"19","author":"Symonds","year":"2007","journal-title":"Reprod. Fertil. Dev."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3109","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2016-11595","article-title":"Different milk feeding intensities during the first 4 weeks of rearing dairy calves: Part 2: Effects on the metabolic and endocrine status during calfhood and around the first lactation","volume":"100","author":"Kesser","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1677\/joe.0.1190043","article-title":"Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in the infant calf: Ontogeny and influence of altered nutrition","volume":"119","author":"Breier","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.1042\/bj3380569","article-title":"Mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase: A control enzyme in ketogenesis","volume":"338","author":"Hegardt","year":"1999","journal-title":"Biochem. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5483","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.biochem.6b00342","article-title":"Cholesterol biosynthesis: A mechanistic overview","volume":"55","author":"Cerqueira","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biochemistry"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"704","DOI":"10.1016\/0006-291X(73)91301-6","article-title":"Stimulation by insulin of rat liver \u03b2-hydroxy-\u03b2-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and cholesterol-synthesizing activities","volume":"50","author":"Lakshmanan","year":"1973","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6448","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-42686-w","article-title":"Enhanced early-life nutrition upregulates cholesterol biosynthetic gene expression and Sertoli cell maturation in testes of pre-pubertal Holstein bulls","volume":"9","author":"Johnson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1017\/S0021859600015458","article-title":"The development of the digestive system of the young animal. VI. The metabolism of short-chain fatty acids by the rumen and caecal wall of the young lamb","volume":"59","author":"Walker","year":"1962","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3156","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2007-0853","article-title":"Changes in hepatic key enzymes of dairy calves in early weaning production systems","volume":"91","author":"Haga","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(91)78167-8","article-title":"Changes in blood glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, and ketones in response to weaning and feed intake in young calves","volume":"74","author":"Quigley","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1016\/j.domaniend.2005.02.019","article-title":"Regulatory roles of leptin in reproduction and metabolism: A comparative review","volume":"29","author":"Zieba","year":"2005","journal-title":"Domest. Anim. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cyto.2016.10.011","article-title":"Leptin in inflammation and autoimmunity","volume":"98","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cytokine"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2008.39","article-title":"Early postnatal leptin blockage leads to a long-term leptin resistance and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in rats","volume":"32","author":"Attig","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1159\/000336967","article-title":"Leptin in early life: A key factor for the development of the adult metabolic profile","volume":"5","author":"Granado","year":"2012","journal-title":"Obes. Facts"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"946","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/79.6.946","article-title":"Biomarkers of satiation and satiety","volume":"79","author":"Graaf","year":"2004","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nut."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2018-15319","article-title":"Effects of gradual and later weaning ages when feeding high milk replacer rates on growth, textured starter digestibility, and behavior in Holstein calves from 0 to 4 months of age","volume":"101","author":"Dennis","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1017\/S0021859600066089","article-title":"Natural sucking performance and age of weaning in zebu cattle (Bos indicus)","volume":"96","author":"Reinhardt","year":"1981","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1080\/00288233.1962.10419963","article-title":"Suckling and grazing behaviour of beef heifers and calves","volume":"5","author":"Walker","year":"1962","journal-title":"N. Z. J. Agric. Res."}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.3390\/ani11113044","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]],"date-time":"2019-12-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1576108800000}}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/9\/12\/1132\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,3]],"date-time":"2025-08-03T22:30:32Z","timestamp":1754260232000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/9\/12\/1132"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ani9121132"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani9121132","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,12]]}}}