Effect of colostrum intake on diarrhoea incidence in new-born calves

In a survey which lasted one year and included data of 73 dairy cows with their calves, colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) of 22 primiparous cows and serum IgG of their calves were lower than the corresponding IgG levels of 51 multiparous cows and their calves. Serum IgG concentration was not correlated with diarrhoea incidence. Although there were no seasonal differences in the IgG concentration of colostrum and calf serum, neonatal diarrhoea incidence was higher in calves which were born in winter than in calves which were born in summer (P < 0.01). Thus the high diarrhoea incidence in winter was not a consequence of an insufficient IgG transfer to the calves. The 60 calves of the second study were fed colostrum on the first day of life. From the second to the tenth day 28 experimental calves received milk and 0.5 l of surplus colostrum of the first and second milking twice a day, whereas 32 control calves received milk only twice a day. Two of the 28 experimental and 11 of the 32 control calves suffered from diarrhoea during the first ten days of life (P < 0.05). These results show that the ingestion of surplus colostrum in addition to milk after the first day of life protects the new-born calf against infectious diarrhoea.     

Effect of colostrum administration by use of oroesophageal intubation on serum IgG concentrations in Holstein bull calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine the amount of colostral IgG required for adequate passive transfer in calves administered colostrum by use of oroesophageal intubation and evaluate the impact of other factors on passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins in calves. ANIMALS: 120 Holstein bull calves. PROCEDURES: Calves were randomly assigned to specific treatment groups on the basis of volume of colostrum administered and age of calf at administration of colostrum. Colostrum was administered once by oroesophageal intubation. Equal numbers of calves received 1, 2, 3, or 4 L of colostrum, and equal numbers of calves received colostrum at 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, or 22 hours after birth. Serum samples were obtained from calves 48 hours after birth for IgG determination by radial immunodiffusion assay. Effects of factors affecting transfer of colostral immunoglobulins were determined by use of a stepwise multiple regression model and logistic regression models. RESULTS: A minimum of 153 g of colostral IgG was required for optimum colostral transfer of immunoglobulins when calves were fed 3L of colostrum at 2 hours after birth. Substantially larger IgG intakes were required by calves fed colostrum > 2 hours after birth. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Feeding 100 g of colostral IgG by oroesophageal intubation was insufficient for adequate passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins. At least 150 to 200 g of colostral IgG was required for adequate passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins. Use of an oroesophageal tube for administration of 3 L of colostrum to calves within 2 hours after birth is recommended.     

Serum immunoglobulin G concentrations in calves fed fresh colostrum or a colostrum supplement

This study compared serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations in calves fed colostrum with those of calves fed a colostrum supplement containing spray-dried serum. Twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to I of 2 treatment groups (fresh colostrum or colostrum supplement). Each calf was fed 4 L of colostrum (n, = 12) or 4 L of colostrum supplement (n2 = 12) via oroesophageal intubation at 3 hours of age. The concentration of the colostrum supplement fed to calves was twice the manufacturer's recommendation. The median and range values for colostral IgG concentration were 6,430 mg/dL and 1,400-17,000 mg/ dL, respectively. Median serum IgG concentrations at 2 days of age differed significantly (P = .001) between calves receiving fresh colostrum (3,350 mg/dL) and the colostrum supplement (643 mg/dL). Eight percent of calves force fed colostrum had serum IgG concentrations < 1,000 mg/dL, whereas 75% of calves force-fed supplement had IgG concentrations below this threshold. The calculated population relative risks for mortality associated with passive transfer for calves force-fed colostrum and calves force-fed colostrum supplement were 1.09 and 1.90, respectively. Force-fed fresh colostrum is superior to the colostrum supplement studied, but the colostrum supplement has similar efficacy to routine colostrum administration practices.     

Serum immunoglobulin G concentrations in calves fed fresh and frozen colostrum

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum IgG concentrations in neonatal calves are adversely affected by short-term frozen storage of colostrum. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Experiment 1 consisted of 10 pairs of Holstein calves (n = 20) fed matched aliquots of either fresh (n = 10) or frozen and thawed (10) colostrum. In experiment 2, 26 Holstein calves were fed either fresh (n = 13) or frozen and thawed (n = 13) colostrum. PROCEDURE: Experiment 1 consisted of calves resulting from observed parturitions; calves were randomly assigned to treatment groups (fresh or frozen and thawed colostrum) in pairs. Calves were fed 4 L aliquots of colostrum via oroesophageal intubation at 3 hours of age. Serum IgG concentrations at 2 days of age were compared between the 2 groups by use of a paired t-test. Experiment 2 consisted of calves resulting from observed parturitions; calves were randomly assigned to treatment groups (fresh or frozen and thawed colostrum). Calves were fed 4 L aliquots of colostrum via oroesophageal intubation at 3 hours of age. Regression analysis was used to determine whether calf serum IgG concentration was a function of colostral IgG concentration and colostrum storage group. RESULTS: Significant differences were not observed between the 2 groups in experiment 1. No significant relationship was observed between colostrum storage group and serum IgG concentration in experiment 2. The model that best predicted serum IgG concentrations accounted for 20% of the variability in serum IgG concentration. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Frozen colostrum is an adequate source of IgG for calves.     

Frequency of detectable serum IgG concentrations in precolostral calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of detectable serum IgG concentrations in calves prior to ingestion of colostrum and to assess whether a detectable IgG concentration was related to dam parity, calf birth weight, calf sex, season of calving, or infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally. ANIMALS: 170 Holstein dairy calves. PROCEDURES: Serum samples were obtained from calves prior to ingestion of colostrum, and serologic testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Neospora caninum was performed. Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum and BVDV serologic testing were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether dam parity, calf sex, season of calving, and calf weight were associated with precolostral IgG concentration. RESULTS: 90 (52.9%) calves had a detectable total serum IgG concentration (IgG >or= 16 mg/dL). Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum serologic testing were 1.66, 0.34, 0.014, and 0.03, respectively. Calf sex, calf birth weight, and season of calving were not significant predictors for detection of serum IgG in precolostral samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prevalence of IgG concentrations in precolostral serum samples was higher than reported elsewhere. There was no apparent link between serum antibodies against common infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally and detection of measurable serum IgG concentrations.     

Serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves fed two colostrum replacement products

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of 2 commercially available colostrum replacement products on serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 84 Holstein bull calves from a single dairy. PROCEDURES: Calves were randomly assigned to be given 4 quarts of colostrum (group 1; n = 21), 2 packages of a colostrum replacement product (product A; group 2; 21), 1 package of a different colostrum replacement product (product B; group 3; 21), or 2 packages of product B (group 4; 21). Treatments were given within 3 hours after birth, and blood samples were collected 24 hours later and submitted for determination of serum total protein and IgG concentrations. RESULTS: Group 1 calves had significantly higher serum total protein and IgG concentrations than did calves in the other 3 groups. However, the percentage of calves with adequate passive transfer (ie, serum IgG concentration > 1,000 mg/dL) was not significantly different among groups 1 (90%), 3 (81%), and 4 (95%). In contrast, only 10% of calves in group 2 had adequate passive transfer. It was predicted that calves fed product B that had serum total protein concentrations > 5.2 g/dL would have serum IgG concentrations > 1,000 mg/dL at least 90% of the time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that product B could be considered as an alternative to colostrum in dairy calves, but product A failed to routinely provide adequate serum IgG concentrations when fed according to label directions.     

Relationships between acid-base balance, serum composition and colostrum absorption in newborn calves

Twenty-seven newborn Holstein bull calves were bottle-fed 2 litres of pooled colostrum which had been stored at -20 degrees C. Blood gas analysis before feeding showed a partially compensated respiratory acidosis in most of the calves, although they all appeared to be clinically normal. Mean venous blood pH was 7.346, carbon dioxide tension (PCO2) was 57.5 mmHg (7.6 kPa), bicarbonate was 30.6 mmol/l and base excess was 3.82 mmol/l. Mean serum IgG1 increased to 8.1 g/l after feeding colostrum. Several significant positive correlations were observed between post-absorptive serum protein, IgG1, IgM, gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma GT) and D-xylose. Calves with either low serum albumin, high serum CK or low serum gamma GT before feeding tended to have less absorption of colostral protein. It was concluded that reduced absorption of IgG1 from colostrum is associated with hypercapnia in apparently healthy newborn calves.     

Effects of pasteurization of colostrum on subsequent serum lactoferrin concentration and neutrophil superoxide production in calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of pasteurization of colostrum on serum lactoferrin concentration and neutrophil oxidative function by comparing values from calves given pasteurized (76 C, 15 minutes) colostrum versus calves given fresh frozen colostrum. ANIMALS: 8 Holstein bull calves were used to study the effects of pasteurization of colostrum on the absorption of lactoferrin and neutrophil oxidative burst. Three additional calves were used to study the effect of exogenous lactoferrin on neutrophil oxidative burst. METHODS: Calves were fed fresh frozen or heat pasteurized colostrum (76 C for 15 minutes) via esophageal feeder within 4 hours of birth. Neutrophils were isolated from whole blood samples. Neutrophil oxidative burst was induced by phorbol ester (300 ng/ml) stimulation of cells (1 X 10(6) cells) at 37 C. Serum lactoferrin concentrations were compared, using immunoblot analysis. Serum IgG concentrations were determined by radial immunoassay. Comparisons were made between the use of the 2 types of colostrum in calves by measuring subsequent serum IgG and lactoferrin concentrations and neutrophil superoxide production. RESULTS: Serum IgG and lactoferrin concentrations increased more in calves receiving fresh frozen colostrum. Neutrophil superoxide production was higher in neutrophils prepared from calves receiving fresh frozen colostrum. Colostral lactoferrin addition to neutrophil incubations resulted in increased oxidative burst. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with calves given fresh frozen colostrum, calves given pasteurized colostrum had decreased serum IgG and lactoferrin concentrations and neutrophil superoxide production 24 hours after administration. These results suggest that pasteurizing bovine colostrum at 76 C for 15 minutes has substantial effects on passive transfer of proteins and neutrophil function.     

Detection of low serum immunoglobulin concentrations in clinically ill calves

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of classification of 4 tests for failure of passive transfer (FPT) were examined in clinically ill neonatal calves. Comparisons were made with serum IgG1 concentrations determined by radial immunodiffusion. Serum samples were obtained from 27 clinically ill calves < or = 21 days of age. The results of 4 commonly used assays, the sodium sulfite turbidity test, the zinc sulfate turbidity test, refractometry, and the serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity test, were compared with radial immunodiffusion determinations of serum IgG1 concentration. Serum GGT activity using a 50 IU/L threshold resulted in correct classification of the highest percentage of calves (93%) with regard to their passive transfer status. The sodium sulfite test with a 1+ end point and refractometry using a 5.5 g/dL end point resulted in correct classification of 85% of the calves studied. When using the sodium sulfite test, the 2+ and 3+ test end points had lower specificity, 0.58 and 0.00, respectively, than the 1+ end point. This loss in specificity resulted in misclassification of calves with adequate serum immunoglobulin concentrations as having FPT. The zinc sulfate turbidity test was inadequately specific (0.33) and resulted in misclassification of 33% of calves.     

Dynamic changes of immunoglobulin concentrations in pig colostrum and serum around parturition

The aim of the study was the determination of IgA, IgM and IgG concentrations in porcine serum and colostrum, in order to evaluate their variations in the perinatal period, as well as to clarify whether there is a correlation between colostrum intake, initial level of immunoglobulins (Ig) in piglet serum and development of their own immunity. The mean IgA, IgM and IgG concentrations in sow serum 10 days before parturition were 1.58, 6.12 and 39.56 mg/ml, respectively. Seven days later only the IgG level was insignificantly lower (34.94 mg/ml, p = 0.55), while concentrations of IgA and IgM increased to 2.25 and 7.25 mg/ml, respectively (p = 0.23 and 0.62, respectively). The mean initial IgG concentration in colostrum at farrowing was 118.5 mg/ml and differed between sows. The average value of IgA in colostrum at birth was 23.8 mg/ml and decreased to 7.85 mg/ml at 6 hours (h) and to 4.59 mg/ml at 24 h after the onset of farrowing. IgM concentration at birth was 12.1 mg/ml and decreased to 4.23 mg/ml at 24 h postpartum. Positive relationships were found between concentrations of IgM and IgA in serum of piglets at 14 and 56 days of life (r = 0.41 and 0.80, respectively, p < or = 0.05) as well as for IgG concentration in the piglets serum at 7 days and 56 days of age (r = 0.48, p < or = 0.05). The above observations suggest that there is a correlation between the level of Ig in piglet serum in the first days of life and improvement of their own immunity.