dr. rachel j. e. stewart bvsc, mvsc, phd cvs, uz colostrum management in calves: is it really a...
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Dr. Rachel J. E. StewartBVSc, MVSc, PhD
CVS, UZ
COLOSTRUM MANAGEMENT IN CALVES: Is it really a matter of life or death?
Table 1 Heifers needed to keep herd size at 100
Cull rate %
Age at first calving 22mnth
Age at first calving 24mnth
Age at first calving 26mnth
Age at first calving 28mnth
Age at first calving 30mnth
Age at first calving 32mnth
Age at first calving 34mnth
Age at first calving 36mnth
20 40 44 48 51 55 59 62 66 22 44 48 52 56 61 65 69 73 24 48 53 57 62 66 70 75 79 26 52 57 62 67 72 76 81 86 28 56 62 67 72 77 82 87 92 30 61 66 72 77 82 88 94 99 32 65 70 76 82 88 94 100 106 34 69 75 81 87 94 100 106 112
THE OBJECTIVE OF FEEDING COLOSTRUM
To maximize the defence capacity of the newborn calf as soon as possible after birth. (specific and aspecific)
Calves are born agammaglobulinaemic: no antibodies and no immune system due to the type of placentation (syndesmochorial)
COLOSTRUM COMPOSITION
Enzyme inhibitors Bacteriostatic proteins
Lactoferrin Lysozyme Lactoperoxidase system
Leukocytes Immunoglobulins
COLOSTRUM COMPOSITION
Item 1st Milking after calving
2nd Milking after calving
3rd Milking after calving
Milk
Total solids 23.9% 17.9% 14.1% 12.9% Protein 14% 8.4% 5.1% 3.1% Antibodies 48 mg/ml 25 mg/ml 15 mg/ml .6 mg/ml Fat 6.7% 5.4% 3.9% 3.7%
LEVEL OF PASSIVE IMMUNITY
Ig G absorbed depends on: Amount of ingested colostrum Concentration of Ig G in colostrum Absorption efficiency of calf gut
Depends on the age at first feeding Method of colostrum feeding
Absorption of Colostrum Intestinal cells of the newborns digestive
tract are able to engulf large molecules such as Ig in vesicles for a period of approximately 24 hours after birth
Peak ability to engulf occurs within the first 6 hours after birth and declines until 24 hours when it stops altogether
The vesicles cross the cell and release their contents into the blood circulation via the lymphatic system
Transport of Ig between blood and intestine
After absorption of the Ig’s into blood the Ig's are released continuously from blood into the lumen of the intestine to provide local immunity to the gut
High serum concentrations of serum Ig are needed to maintain this cycle to ensure adequate levels in blood and gut at time of closure
Serum Ig concentration
Calf serum Ig concentration peaks at 24 to 36 hours after birth.
Thereafter serum concentrations gradually decline to minimal between 15 and 28 days of age
There is a gradual but steady increase in serum isotypes from 4 to 7 weeks
Mean Serum Concentrations of Ig at different ages
Failure of Passive Transfer
A serum Ig G concentration of <1000mg/dl by 48 hours has been
defined as failure of passive transfer
Reasons for failure of passive transfer
DAM: low colostral Ig CALF: weak calves due to dystocia,
premature birth, infections , suckling calves.
MANAGEMENT: first feeding too late or amount too small - CONCENTRATION * VOLUME
Colostrum feeding 10% of birth weight within 1 hour of birth
5% of birth weight at 6 hours after birth
5% of birth weight at 12 hours after birth
5% of birth weight at 24 hours after birth
Colostrum Quality CHECK
Dry off strategy (use of dry cow antibiotic) Disease history Length of dry period Parity Colostrum leakage Prepartum milking Premature calving Dystocia Colostrum yield
Risk Factors IgG intake
COW FACTORS: yield >8kgs, front quarter colostrum, parity of dam, heifer calves, dystocia, diseases
MANAGEMENT FACTORS: prepartum milking, milk leaking, time/ amount 1st colostrum gift, hygiene, maternity pen, caretaker
Colostrometer
Use first milking colostrum Test colostrum at room temp. Most effective in identifying poor
quality samples Specific gravity > 1.045 indicative
of IgG conc of > 50 mg/ml
IgG concentration in colostrum 48.2 (20 – 100) mg/ml (Pritchett et al 1991) 66 (28 – 115) mg/ml (Quigley et al 1994) 76.2 (26 – 110) mg/ml (Rajala and Castren
1995) At least 100g of pure IgG must be ingested
at each of the first two colostrum feedings to achieve a blood conc of at least 1000 mg/dl to reduce the incidence of disease and death
Serum Ig Tests Done on calves
Zinc turbidity test (Ig): Gel/ turbidity if adequate
Refractometer (total protein): 5.2g/dl and above
Sodium sulfite precipitation test (Ig) Latex agglutination test (Ig) NA Radio immunodiffusion test kit (Ig) NA Gluteraldehyde test (Ig and fibrinogen)
Storage of Colostrum
Room temperature for 1 day Acidified (5 gr proprionic acid or
lactic acid) at 5 C for 6 weeks Deep frozen (-20C) for more than a
year Not in frost free freezers Thaw in warm water (<60C)
Ig and disease
An overwhelming pathogen challenge or environmental conditions that are poor will overwhelm even very good passive transfer
3 Zimbabwean Farms Workers and Owners knew the correct
method Tested serum total protein of all calves
between 2 and 14 days of age. Over 50% below 5.2 All 3 farms had problems with calf
scours, pneumonia and death Instituted improved colostrum
management
3 Zimbabwean Farms
All 3 farms calves tested on a regular basis to check on compliance
2 farms constant passes 1 farm one set of over 50% failure
again one month into new regime No failures over 25% since
3 Zimbabwean Farms
One farm greatly reduced scours and coughing, improved weaning weights
Another farm no more umbilical hernias and can’t remember the last time they treated a sick calf
Last farm no more scours and greatly reduced pre weaning mortality
Post Calving to Weaning
Disinfect umbilical cord Move to clean well ventilated pens/
hutches Colostrum for 5 days Feed good clean milk at 39C at to
15% of birth weight divided into two feeds per day
Post Calving to Weaning
Clean water from day one all day Calf meal of good quality from day 4 Good quality hay from week 2. Move hutches or clean out pens at
least every three days. Check feed intakes, can be weaned
when eating more than 2.5% of birthweight per day
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