Effect of Whey Dangke-Supplementation Diets on Lipid Metabolism in Friesian Holstein Dairy Calves

Effective feed management in dairy calves is essential for their performance as high-quality replacement stock. To support optimal growth, calf starters must possess high nutritional value and digestibility. Enhancing the digestibility of calf starter feed can be achieved by including whey dangke, a by-product known for its high protein digestibility. These lipid parameters are vital for growth, including tissue development and as precursors for various growth-related hormones. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the concentrations of triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and cholesterol in response to dietary supplementation with whey dangke. A completely randomized design was employed, with three treatment groups and six replicates per group. The treatments involved levels of whey dangke supplementation: T0 (0% of body weight), T1 (2.5%), and T2 (5%). A total of 18 Friesian Holstein dairy calves aged 2-3 months were used in the experiment. The findings demonstrated that whey dangke supplementation significantly affected (P<0.05) blood cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. As the supplementation level increased, both cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased, yet remained within normal physiological ranges. Significantly, supplementation up to 5% did not disrupt blood lipid profiles, indicating that whey dangke is safe and does not induce adverse health effects in dairy calves.