Optimal Period of Calcium Propionate Supplementation in Arrival High-Risk Bull Calves: Growth Performance, Body Fat Reserves, and Serum Metabolites

Fifty high-risk bull calves were used in a completely randomized design (ten calves/treatment) to evaluate the optimal period of calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation following arrival into the feedlot. The variables evaluated were the growth performance, dietary energetics, body fat reserves, serum metabolites, and economic return at day 56 of arrival. Calves, which were weighed at the moment of reception (156.2 ± 1.57 kg off-truck body weight, BW), were received with a 50:50 forage-to-concentrate ratio diet and clean water. At 12 h from reception, they were housed in individual pens during a 56 d feeding period and assigned to treatments consisting of a daily supplementation of a commercial product (Propical^® Dresen Química, SAPI de CV., Mexico City, Mexico) that provided 19 g CaPr/calf for 0, 14, 28, 42, or 56 d following arrival into the feedlot. Compared with the other treatments, the calves receiving CaPr during the initial 42 d had a greater average daily weight gain (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.035) without affecting the dry matter intake (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.24). Thus, the gain efficiency (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.050) and dietary energy utilization were improved (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.046). Rib fat thickness (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.090) and <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> muscle area (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.112) were not affected by the CaPr supplementation, whereas calves showed the greatest values (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.038) to the rump back fat thickness at 42 and 56 days of CaPr supplementation. With the exception of the total albumin (being maximal at day 56 (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.024)) and total cholesterol (which, compared to the controls, was maximal at 28 and 42 d; <i>p</i> = 0.030), the serum metabolic profiles were not affected by the treatments. Using the profit estimated for the control group as a baseline, supplementing CaPr for 42 d yielded a greater net income (USD 34.84 more/calf). CaPr supplementation for more or less than 42 d showed a very similar profit (~USD 6.80/calf). Because the cost of gain was very similar for these treatments and the controls (USD 1.42 vs. 1.46/kg), the positive difference in profit was mediated mainly by an increase in income selling (+USD 13.02/calf) for the CaPr calves. Based on the performance, serum metabolites, and profit, it is concluded that the optimal duration of supplemental CaPr is 42 d. Offering 19 g CaPr during this period enhanced the growth performance, dietary energy, and economic returns.