Passive Transfer of Immunoglobulin G and Preweaning Health in Holstein Calves Fed a Commercial Colostrum Replacer

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe passive transfer of IgG and preweaning health in newborn calves fed a commercially available plasma-derived colostrum replacement (CR) product or maternal colostrum (MC). Twelve commercial Holstein dairy farms enrolled singleton newborn heifer calves to be fed fresh MC (n = 239 calves) or one dose of CR containing 125 g of Ig (n = 218 calves) as the first colostrum feeding. For 7 of these farms that routinely provided a second feeding of 1.9 L of MC to their calves 8 to 12 h after the first colostrum feeding, calves assigned to the CR treatment group were offered a second feeding consisting of 1.9 L of commercial milk replacer supplemented with one dose of a commercially available plasma-derived colostrum supplement, containing 45 g of Ig per dose, 8 to 12 h after the first colostrum feeding. A blood sample was collected from all calves between 1 to 8 d of age for serum IgG and total protein (TP) determination, and records of all treatment and mortality events were collected until weaning. Serum IgG and TP concentrations were significantly higher in calves fed MC (IgG = 14.8 +/- 7.0 mg/mL; TP = 5.5 +/- 0.7 g/dL) compared with calves fed CR (IgG = 5.8 +/- 3.2 mg/mL; TP = 4.6 +/- 0.5 g/dL). The proportion of calves with failure of passive transfer (serum IgG <10.0 mg/mL) was 28.0 and 93.1% in the MC and CR treatment groups, respectively. Though a trend was present, the proportion of calves treated for illness was not statistically different for calves fed MC (51.9%) vs. CR (59.6%). Total number of days treated per calf (MC = 1.7; CR = 2.0), treatment costs per calf (MC = $10.84; CR = $11.88), and proportion of calves dying (MC = 10.0%; CR = 12.4%) was not different between the 2 colostrum treatment groups. The mean serum total protein concentration predictive of successful passive transfer (serum IgG = 10 mg/mL) was 5.0 g/dL in calves fed MC or CR. Long-term follow-up of these calves (to maturity) is ongoing to describe the effects of feeding CR on longevity, productivity, risk for Johne's disease, and economics.

Calf management practices and associations with herd-level morbidity and mortality on beef cow-calf operations

“…Dairy colostrum has been shown to have a much lower IgG concentration than beef colostrum (Guy et al, 1994). In addition, calves fed colostrum replacer or supplements may have lower serum IgG concentrations than calves fed fresh colostrum, which may be due to lower IgG concentrations per dose of product or insufficient amounts being fed (Quigley et al, 1998;Swan et al, 2007). Furthermore, if these alternatives were not readily available, the resulting time delay may have affected IgG absorption (Godden, 2008).…”

Management of Dairy Calves from Birth to Weaning

“…As with maternal colostrum feeding, the expectation is that recipient calves reach the minimum 1000 mg/dL serum IgG concentration, indicative of a successful transfer of immunity. To date, the CR studies that have focused either on achieving this minimum serum IgG concentration or a serum IgG concentration comparable to calves fed maternal colostrum as outcomes have shown disappointing results (Mee et al, 1996 ;Quigley et al, 2001 ;Smith & Foster, 2007 ;Swan et al, 2007 ) unless higher doses were fed (Quigley et al, 2001 ;Jones et al, 2004 ;Foster et al, 2006 ;Godden et al, 2009a ). These studies provide evidence that, similar to maternal colostrum, calves fed CR products require a minimum 150 -200 -g dose of IgG for successful passive transfer.…”

“…Suckling a nipple bottle, using an esophaet al, 1999a ). Whether maternal colostrum, a colostrum replacement (CR), or a combination of CR and supplement product is fed (Quigley et al, 2002 ;Swan et al, 2007 ;Smith & Foster, 2007 ), an adequate immunoglobulin mass must be presented to the calf when absorption effi ciency is optimal. The IgG concentration in colostrum is variable (Pritchett et al, 1994 ;Morin et al, 1997 ;Swan et al, 2007 ;Chigerwe et al, 2008 ).…”

“…Whether maternal colostrum, a colostrum replacement (CR), or a combination of CR and supplement product is fed (Quigley et al, 2002 ;Swan et al, 2007 ;Smith & Foster, 2007 ), an adequate immunoglobulin mass must be presented to the calf when absorption effi ciency is optimal. The IgG concentration in colostrum is variable (Pritchett et al, 1994 ;Morin et al, 1997 ;Swan et al, 2007 ;Chigerwe et al, 2008 ). High -quality colostrum, which has a minimum IgG concentration of 50 g/L is needed to deliver an adequate immunoglobulin mass in 3 -4 qt of colostrum (Besser et al, 1991 ), but the availability of accurate cowside tests to determine this level of colostrum quality is limited (Pritchett et al, 1994 ;Chigerwe et al, 2005Chigerwe et al, , 2008.…”

The Effects of Colostrum Immunoglobulin on Strongyloides Infection in Mice

“…Simultaneously, Swan et al, (2007) showed that passive transfer of IgG and preweaning health in newborn calves fed a commercially available plasma-derived colostrum replacement (CR) product or maternal colostrum may have had an opportunity against the pathogenic agent. Accordingly, William et al (2014) and Priestley et al (2013) pointed that passive transfer of antibody using colostrum replacement is a good choice because it contains nutrients and high level of IgG.…”