48 Supplementation of Condensed Tannins to Beef Heifers During Peripartum Period Affects Coccidia Parasite Load in Dam and Offspring

Abstract Our objective was to explore the effects of condensed tannins peripartum supplementation of beef heifers on their offspring incidence of coccidiosis, diarrhea, and growth performance. A total of 30 beef heifers, diagnosed as pregnant were enrolled in the study. At approximately 60 d pre-partum, determined by breeding and expected calving dates, heifers were stratified by body weight (BW), coccidial oocyst counts per gram of feces (OPG) and randomly assigned one of two treatments: supplementation of 450g-1hd-1d corn gluten feed (Control; n=14); or supplementation of 450g-1hd-1d corn gluten feed and 20g-1hd-1d of condensed tannins (n=16; CT). Heifers received treatment using an automated feeding system (SmartFeed PRO, C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) until 30d postpartum for a total of approximately 90d. Dam BW was determined every 30d, and offspring BW was determined at birth and 30d after. Fecal samples for OPG were collected every 30d from dams, and weekly from calves after birth. All animals were managed as a single group during the duration of the experiment. Initial BW (day -60 relative to calving; 446±7.5 kg), day -30 (480±8.1 kg) and day 30 (453±7.1) was similar (P>0.10) between treatments. Supplement individual daily intake was similar between treatments (395±15.8 and 448±18.2 g/d for CT and Control, respectively; P>0.10). Calf birth weight and at 30d were similar (P>0.10) between treatments (30.4±2.2 kg and 60.7±4.1 kg, respectively). Dam fecal OPG for Eimeria spp. was similar (P>0.10) at day -60 (161.5±8.5 OPG), and day 30 (107.5±9.4 OPG), but were greater (P< 0.05) on day -30 for Control than CT (140.9±8.5 and 54.2±16.2 OPG, respectively). Calf OPG was similar on week 2 (0.0±0.0 OPG), and week3 (283.1±25 OPG); however, it was greater (P< 0.05) for Control than CT calves on week4 (2,744.4±168.4 and 1,150.0±64.7 OPG, respectively). Supplementation of condensed tannins reduced coccidia load pre-calving for dams and their offspring postnatal.