Evaluation of the effects of oral colostrum supplementation during the first fourteen days on the health and performance of preweaned calves

Abstract

Increasing concerns about antimicrobial resistance have led to the development and implementation of alternatives to antimicrobial use in animal production. The objective of this clinical trial was to determine the effect of colostrum supplementation of the milk replacer ration on morbidity, mortality, feed intake, and weight gain of preweaned calves. Ninety 1-d-old calves on each of 3 commercial calf ranches were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups. Treatment-group calves received 10 g of supplemental immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the form of 70 g of colostrum powder in the milk replacer twice daily for 14 d. The placebo-group calves received a nutritionally equivalent supplement lacking IgG in the milk replacer twice daily for 14 d. Control calves received milk replacer without supplements twice daily. Calves were housed in individual hutches and were weighed on d 1, 28, and 60. Serum was collected on d 2 for serum IgG determination. Daily health evaluations for the first 28 d of life were performed by study personnel blinded to treatment group assignment. Observed illness was treated based on health assessment, rectal temperature, and specific calf ranch protocols. Feed consumption (milk and grain) was recorded. Calves receiving supplemental colostrum had less diarrhea and received fewer antimicrobial treatments than control and placebo calves. The results indicated that calf diarrhea was associated with low serum IgG levels and low-weight calves. Grain consumption and weight gain over the first 28 d of life were significantly greater in colostrum-supplemented calves compared with control calves. No differences in mortality or respiratory disease incidence among groups were detected. Supplemental colostrum during the first 2 wk of life can reduce diarrheal disease in preweaned calves on calf ranches and thereby reduce the amount of antimicrobial treatments needed.

Use of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as an indirect measure of passive transfer of immunity in holstein calves and association with the occurrence of diarrhea after birth

“…Despite the high IgG levels are correlated with high GGT concentrations (THOMPSON;PAULI, 1981;PARISH et al, 1997;ROCHA et al, 2009;FEITOSA et al, 2007), there is no consensus on the combination of passive transfer of immunity and protection against morbidity or mortality (BERGE et al, 2009, VIRTALA et al, 1999.…”

Perfil bioquímico sérico de bezerros de origem leiteira aleitados com dietas líquidas alternativas

“…No entanto, Baracat et al (1995) verificaram um efeito positivo da presença de colostro na dieta sobre a produção de proteínas séricas totais, incluindo a fração albumina. Além disso, tem sido atribuído papel de proteção local aos anticorpos existentes no colostro fornecido suplementarmente aos bezerros, os quais protegeriam a mucosa intestinal levando a menores incidências de diarréia (Daniele et al 1994, Berge et al 2009) e consequentemente, menores perdas de proteínas.…”

Transferencia de inmunidad pasiva en bucerras y bucerros y su influencia en la etapa de pre-destete.

“…Diversas investigaciones, también han demostrado que las inmunoglobulinas del calostro, adquiridas por los animales después del nacimiento, pueden tener un efecto sobre el crecimiento y la producción subsecuente (Denise et al 1989, Faber et al 2005, Berge et al 2009). Así por ejemplo, en terneras de lechería, Robinson et al (1988) demostraron que una adecuada adquisición de inmunidad pasiva afectó significativamente la variación en las ganancias de peso diarias hasta los 180 días de vida.…”