Effect of Whey Dangke-Supplementation Diets on Lipid Metabolism in Friesian Holstein Dairy Calves Zyahrul Ramadan (a), Renny Fatmyah Utamy (a*), Ambo Ako (a), Mohammad Mijanur Rahman (b), Rara Mufliha (a)
a) Faculty of Animal Science, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
*rennyfatmyahutamy[at]unhas.ac.id
b) Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Sandakan 90200, Malaysia
Abstract
Effective feed management in dairy calves is essential for their performance into high-quality replacement stock. One of the key components in early nutrition is the calf starter, which serves as a substitute for maternal milk. To support optimal growth, calf starters must possess high nutritional value and digestibility. Enhancing the digestibility of calf starter feed can be achieved through the inclusion of whey dangke, a by-product known for its high protein digestibility. However, despite its nutritional benefits, whey dangke may influence blood lipid metabolism, particularly affecting triglyceride, HDL, LDL, and cholesterol concentrations. These lipid parameters are vital for growth, including tissue development and as precursors for various growth-related hormones. Nevertheless, elevated levels of these indicators may pose health risks. 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 (CRD) was employed, consisting of three treatment groups with six replicates each. The treatments involved different 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 and weighing between 60-80 kg 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. Importantly, supplementation up to 5% of body weight did not disrupt blood profiles, indicating that whey dangke is safe and does not induce adverse health effects in dairy calves.
