Untersuchungen zur Anämie bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern

Abstract

With 195 male rearing calves which received concentrates ad libitum beside fluid feed with milk from their 5th day of life onward, investigations were made if and how far the characteristics of the development of the calves while they are fed on colostrum (body weight at birth, live weight increase and duration of keeping or stalling age) correlate with the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) and the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the animals on the 3rd, 28th resp. 56th day of keeping in the weaning period. There was a significant simple dependence particularly between body weight at birth, live weight increase and stalling age on the one hand and the hematologic values on the 3rd day of keeping in the weaning period on the other. A partial correlation analysis showed that the live weight increase while the calves were fed on colostrum was the main variable for all three hematologic parameters at the beginning of the weaning period of the calves. With increasing live weight, Hb, Hc and MCHC were diminished. This analysis was supplemented by the results of a cross--section investigation of the development of the milk and concentrate consumption and the Fe-intake of the calves fed on colostrum. The calculation of the Fe-balance showed that the mere ad libitum supply with feed supplements rich in Fe cannot prevent Fe-deficiency. Anaemia developing in the first month of the calves' lives is not a physiologic one but essentially caused by Fe-deficiency.

Effects of Protein-Iron Complex Concentrate Supplementation on Iron Metabolism, Oxidative and Immune Status in Preweaning Calves

“…Iron is one of the important factors that influence growth, productivity, and animal immunity [ 9 ]. By feeding only cow’s milk to young ruminant calves, iron intake is insufficient for normal erythropoiesis during the first month of life [ 8 ], which is manifested by reduced blood parameters, such as red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (HGB) [ 20 ]. Volker and Rotermund [ 7 ] reported that oral administration of 100 mg iron per day, prevented anemia in calves.…”

“…The concentration of Fe in the blood of young calves can vary by a wide range, from less than 10 μmol/L to as high as 30 μmol/L [ 2 , 25 ]. Moreover, over the first few days of life a progressive reduction in serum Fe concentration occurs, thus many authors point to the need for supplementation [ 2 , 20 ]. Primary iron deficiency is associated with a decrease of this trace element concentration in blood serum and elevated total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) [ 6 ].…”