The neonatal immune system at birth is naïve to the wide variety and types of pathogens present in the environment. Consumption of colostrum to provide circulating IgG prior to the cessation of macromolecular transport (“closure”) is essential to ensure healthy calves. There are a tremendous number of factors that may influence the absorption of IgG by calves; therefore, blanket recommendations for feeding one amount of colostrum to all calves is inappropriate. A model to evaluate factors affecting IgG absorption has been developed and those factors are discussed.
Source:
Jim Quigley
Director of Worldwide Research, APC, Inc., Ames, IA 50010
Calf health, growth, and productivity rely heavily on nutrition and management prac- tices. Every heifer calf born on a dairy farm represents an opportunity to maintain or increase herd size, to improve the herd geneti- cally, or to improve economic returns to the farm. The objectives of raising the newborn calf to weaning age are optimizing growth and minimizing health problems. To accomplish these goals, it is necessary to understand the calf’s digestive system, immune system, and nutrient needs, as well as the feed options available to meet those needs.
The successful transfer of passive immunity via colostrum to the newborn dairy calf continues to be a significant challenge. In spite of years of research and implementation of systems for colostrum management, over 30% of calves exhibit failure of passive transfer (FPT) (NAHMS, 1993). A discussion of the challenges of transfer and development of immunity in the calf represented a significant portion of the program of a recent ADSA Discover Conference held in 2008 entitled: “Biology of the Calf”.
The results emphasize the importance of milking as soon as possible after calving. By changing routines at the farm it is possible to milk most fresh cows within five hours after calving and thereby increase the likelihood of collecting high quality colostrum from 50% to around 80%.
Source:
Rikke Engelbrecht1, PhD, Mette Marie Løkke2, PhD, Lars Wiking2, PhD, Associate Professor
1Western Union of Agricultural Services, Ringkøbing, Denmark, 2Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, AU-Foulum, Denmark
Maternal HT during late gestation decreased calf birth weight and weaning weight and compromised the passive IgG transfer, regardless of colostrum source. Feeding colostrum from HT cows during the dry period did not affect AEA or growth performance during the preweaning period, but seemed to impair humoral im- mune response during the first month of life.
Source:
A. P. A. Monteiro, S. Tao, I. M. Thompson, and G. E. Dahl1
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
It is essential that sheep and goat producers learn how to feed young animals with a stomach tube. This simple procedure can often save a young animal’s life, thereby increasing lambing and kidding crop rates and enhancing profitability. With a brief amount of instruction and a little practice,
anyone can perform this crucial task quickly, safely, and effectively
Although ensuring that calves have APT is the most significant management factor to ensure the health of neonatal calves on calf ranches, colostrum supplementation during the first 2 wk of life in calves was effective in reducing diarrheal disease and the use of antimicrobials. The ADG up to 4 wk of age in colostrum-supplemented calves was significantly greater compared with that in control calves, likely because of a combination of greater energy intake through the liquid feed, increased grain intake, and fewer days with diarrhea.
Source:
A. C. B. Berge, T. E. Besser, D. A. Moore, and W. M. Sischo1
College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, pullman 99164