Survey of bovine colostrum quality and hygiene on northern Victorian dairy farms

Abstract

One of the major challenges for dairy producers is to produce, harvest, and store high-quality colostrum and feed it to their replacement heifer calves. Limited published data are available in Australia regarding the relationship between colostrum management, hygiene, and quality. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the colostrum storage and handling practices carried out on farm; (2) the immunoglobulin concentration and bacterial composition of colostrum being fed to replacement dairy heifer calves; (3) the percentage of colostrum being fed to replacement dairy heifer calves that meet industry recommendations; and (4) risk factors for bacterial contamination of colostrum. The study was carried out on 24 dairy farms located near Rochester, Victoria, Australia. Two hundred forty colostrum samples were collected (10 samples per farm). Each farm harvested and stored first-milking colostrum under normal farm conditions. A 10-mL sample of the colostrum was collected in a sterile container immediately before feeding, and a Brix refractometer reading was taken. The samples were then frozen at -4°C and submitted for bacterial concentration analysis. Fifty-eight percent of colostrum samples met the recommended industry standard of a total plate count (TPC) of <100,000cfu/mL, and 94% of colostrum samples met the recommended industry standard of total coliform count (TCC) of 10,000cfu/mL. However, when all the current industry recommendations for TPC, TCC, and Brix refractometer percentage for colostrum quality were considered, only 23% of the samples met all standards. These findings demonstrate that a large number of calves were at risk of receiving colostrum of poor quality, with high bacterial loads that may have interfered with the acquisition of transfer of passive immunity and affected calf health. Further investigation is required to identify the farm-specific factors that may influence the level of bacterial contamination of colostrum. Recommendations as a result of this study include refrigeration of excess colostrum shortly (within 1h) after collection and thorough disinfection of the calf feeding apparatus before use.

An investigation of dairy calf management practices, colostrum quality, failure of transfer of passive immunity, and occurrence of enteropathogens among Australian dairy farms

“…However, when all the current recommendations were considered, only 43 samples (19.5%) met all criteria. These findings were consistent with a previous study conducted in 24 farms in northern Victoria (Australia), where only 23% of colostrum samples met the 3 standards (Phipps et al, 2016). Similar to our results, this study also reported that more than 50% of studied samples contained a concentration of IgG lower than recommended and a high bacterial contamination in approximately 40% of samples.…”

“…Hence, veterinarians are required to conduct further investigations on each farm to identify where contamination is likely to occur. The prompt refrigeration of colostrum (within 1 h of collection) and thorough disinfection of the calf-feeding apparatus before use have been recommended to reduce bacterial contamination (Phipps et al, 2016).…”

“…Some studies have investigated colostrum quality parameters (Phipps et al, 2016;Chuck et al, 2017), 8353 the prevalence of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI; Vogels et al, 2013), the prevalence of common enteropathogens causing neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD; Izzo et al, 2011b), and calf-rearing practices (Phipps et al, 2018) on Australian dairy farms. However, these studies were limited to a particular region and, to the authors' knowledge, no study has investigated these parameters together.…”

Use of clinic refractometer at farm as a tool to estimate the IgG content in goat colostrum

“…For the past 10 years, refractometry has been used for determining the IgG concentration in the colostrum in farms (Chigerwe et al, 2008;Quigley et al 2013) observing a significant correlation between Brix index and colostrum IgG concentration in dairy cows. Although more types have been observed in Brix refractometers (Phipps et al, 2016), clinical ones have been successfully used in cow colostrum (Vandeputte et al, 2011). As the literature is limited in reference to the use of clinical refractometer for measuring colostrum IgG in dairy goats, the present study was conducted.…”

Quantitative assessment and impact of thermal treatment on quality of Holstein dairy cattle colostrum immunoglobulin and viscosity

“…In contrast, direct methods including radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), infrared spectroscopy (IR), turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) and enzymatic assays like split trehalase immunoglobuline G assays for estimating IgG concentration in colostrum and calf serum have been exclusively applied as the gold standard methods in diagnostic laboratories (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). Many studies have estimated the quality of immunoglobulin of bovine colostrum at postpartum milking (19,22). Previously, numerous studies presumed the influence of heat treatment and pasteurization processes on the consistency, stability of Ig and reduction or elimination of bacteria (11,(23)(24)(25).…”