Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T00:31:48.322Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transfer of passive immunity in dairy calves: the effectiveness of providing a supplementary colostrum meal in addition to nursing from the dam

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2019

I. Lora Open the ORCID record for I. Lora [Opens in a new window] ,
F. Gottardo ,
L. Bonfanti ,
A. L. Stefani ,
E. Soranzo ,
B. Dall’Ava ,
K. Capello ,
M. Martini  and
A. Barberio
I. Lora
Affiliation:
PhD Course in Animal and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
F. Gottardo*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
L. Bonfanti
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
A. L. Stefani
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
E. Soranzo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
B. Dall’Ava
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
K. Capello
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
M. Martini
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
A. Barberio
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in dairy calves – which is often due to the low amount of colostrum provided within a few hours after birth – remains a crucial issue. Enabling dairy calves to nurse colostrum from their dams could be useful in increasing intake and thus avoiding FTPI, but further potential effects on the health and welfare of both calves and dams should also be considered. In this study, 107 calf-dam pairs from two Italian dairy farms were alternately assigned to one of the following colostrum provision methods (CPMs): ‘hand-fed method’ (HFM) – the calf was separated from the dam immediately after birth and colostrum was provided by nipple-bottle (n = 50); ‘nursing method’ (NM) – the calf nursed colostrum from the dam for the first 12 h of life without farmer assistance (n = 30); and ‘mixed method’ (MM) – the nursing calf received a supplementary colostrum meal by nipple-bottle (n = 27). Serum of calves (1 to 5 days of age) and samples of their first colostrum meal were analysed by electrophoresis to assess immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration. Additionally, behavioural indicators of separation distress (calf and dam vocalisations; calf refusal of the first meal after separation; undesirable dam behaviour at milking) in the following 24 h were recorded as binary variables (Yes/No), and the health status of calves (disease occurrence and mortality) and dams (postpartum disorders and mastitis occurrence) were monitored for the first 3 months of life and 7 days after parturition, respectively. The lowest FTPI occurrence (calf serum Ig concentration <10.0 g/l) was found in the MM (11.1%) and the HFM (22.0%) compared with the NM (60.0%) (P<0.05), and the highest percentage of calves with optimal transfer of passive immunity (serum Ig concentration ≥16.0 g/l) was observed in the MM (55.6%). The lowest calf–dam separation distress was observed in the HFM (P<0.05). The highest calf disease occurrence was recorded in the HFM (64.0%) and the lowest in the NM (33.3%), with an intermediate value for the MM (44.4%) (P<0.05). No effect of the CPM was observed on dam health or calf mortality (P>0.05). The results of this study indicated that providing calves with a supplementary colostrum meal in addition to nursing from the dam (MM) is truly effective in maximizing passive immunity transfer. Anyway, specific strategies should be studied to minimise calf-dam separation distress.

Keywords

behaviourhealthimmunoglobulinnewbornsuckle
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 11 , November 2019 , pp. 2621 - 2629
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Besser, TE, Gay, CC and Pritchett, L 1991. Comparison of three methods of feeding colostrum to dairy calves. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 198, 419–422.Google ScholarPubMed
Brignole, TJ and Stott, GH 1980. Effect of suckling followed by bottle feeding colostrum on immunoglobulin absorption and calf survival. Journal of Dairy Science 63, 451–456. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(80)82952-3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards, SA and Broom, DM 1979. The period between birth and first suckling in dairy calves. Research in Veterinary Science 26, 255–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Filteau, V, Bouchard, É, Fecteau, G, Dutil, L and DuTremblay, D 2003. Health status and risk factors associated with failure of passive transfer of immunity in newborn beef calves in Québec. The Canadian Veterinary Journal 44, 907–913.Google ScholarPubMed
Flower, FC and Weary, DM 2001. Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at 1 day and 2 weeks after birth. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 70, 275–284. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00164-7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Furman-Fratczak, K, Rzasa, A and Stefaniak, T 2011. The influence of colostral immunoglobulin concentration in heifer calves’ serum on their health and growth. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 5536–5543. doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-3253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godden, S 2008. Colostrum management for dairy calves. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice 24, 19–39. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2007.10.005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gulliksen, SM, Lie, KI, Sølverød, L and Østerås, O 2008. Risk factors associated with colostrum quality in Norwegian dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 704–712. doi: 10.3168/jds.2007-0450.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jensen, MB 2011. The early behaviour of cow and calf in an individual calving pen. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134, 92–99. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.06.017.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kälber, T and Barth, K 2014. Practical implications of suckling systems for dairy calves in organic production systems - a review. Landbauforschung - Applied Agricultural and Forestry Research 64, 45–58. doi: 10.3220/LBF_2014_45-58.Google Scholar
Krohn, CC 2001. Effects of different suckling systems on milk production, udder health, reproduction, calf growth and some behavioural aspects in high producing dairy cows - a review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 72, 271–280. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00117-4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lidfors, LM 1996. Behavioural effects of separating the dairy calf immediately or 4 days post-partum. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 49, 269–283. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(96)01053-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lora, I, Barberio, A, Contiero, B, Paparella, P, Bonfanti, L, Brscic, M, Stefani, AL and Gottardo, F 2018a. Factors associated with passive immunity transfer in dairy calves: combined effect of delivery time, amount and quality of the first colostrum meal. Animal 12, 1041–1049. doi: 10.1017/S1751731117002579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lora, I, Gottardo, F, Contiero, B, Dall’Ava, B, Bonfanti, L, Stefani, AL and Barberio, A 2018b. Association between passive immunity and health status of dairy calves under 30 days of age. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 152, 12–15. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.01.009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Massimini, G, Peli, A, Boari, A and Britti, D 2006. Evaluation of assay procedures for prediction of passive transfer status in lambs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 67, 593–598. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.67.4.593.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maunsell, F and Donovan, GA 2008. Biosecurity and risk management for dairy replacements. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice 24, 155–190. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2007.10.007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGuirk, SM and Collins, M 2004. Managing the production, storage, and delivery of colostrum. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice 20, 593–603. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2004.06.005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morin, DE, Constable, PD, Maunsell, FP and McCoy, GC 2001. Factors associated with colostral specific gravity in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 937–943. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(01)74551-1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murray, CF and Leslie, KE 2013. Newborn calf vitality: Risk factors, characteristics, assessment, resulting outcomes and strategies for improvement. The Veterinary Journal 198, 322–328. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.06.007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Padilla de la Torre, M, Briefer, EF, Reader, T and McElligott, AG 2015. Acoustic analysis of cattle (Bos taurus) mother-offspring contact calls from a source-filter theory perspective. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 163, 58–68. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.11.017.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petrie, L 1984. Maximising the absorption of colostral immunoglobulins in the newborn dairy calf. The Veterinary Record 114, 157–163. doi: 10.1136/vr.114.7.157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pfeiffer, NE, McGuire, TC, Bendel, RB and Weikel, JM 1977. Quantitation of bovine immunoglobulins: comparison of single radial immunodiffusion, zinc sulfate turbidity, serum electrophoresis, and refractometer methods. American Journal of Veterinary Research 38, 693–698.Google ScholarPubMed
Quigley, JD and Drewry, JJ 1998. Nutrient and immunity transfer from cow to calf pre- and postcalving. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2779–2790. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(98)75836-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quigley, JD, Martin, KR, Bemis, DA, Potgieter, LND, Reinemeyer, CR, Rohrbach, BV, Dowlen, HH and Lamar, KC 1995. Effects of housing and colostrum feeding on serum immunoglobulins, growth, and fecal scores of Jersey calves. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 893–901. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(95)76703-0.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajala, P and Castrén, H 1995. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations and health of dairy calves in two management systems from birth to 12 weeks of age. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 2737–2744. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(95)76904-1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rousing, T, Bonde, M, Badsberg, JH and Sørensen, JT 2004. Stepping and kicking behaviour during milking in relation to response in human-animal interaction test and clinical health in loose housed dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 88, 1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2003.12.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rumbaugh, GE, Ardans, AA, Ginno, D and Trommershausen-Smith, A 1978. Measurement of neonatal equine immunoglobulins for assessment of colostral immunoglobulin transfer: comparison of single radial immunodiffusion with the zinc sulfate turbidity test, serum electrophoresis, refractometry for total serum protein, and the sodium sulfite precipitation test. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 172, 321–325.Google ScholarPubMed
Stěhulová, I, Lidfors, L and Špinka, M 2008. Response of dairy cows and calves to early separation: effect of calf age and visual and auditory contact after separation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110, 144–165. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.03.028.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Svensson, C, Lundborg, K, Emanuelson, U and Olsson, S-O 2003. Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 58, 179–197. doi: 10.1016/S0167-5877(03)00046-1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tyler, JW, Hancock, DD, Thorne, JG, Gay, CC and Gay, JM 1999. Partitioning the mortality risk associated with inadequate passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins in dairy calves. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 13, 335–337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vogels, Z, Chuck, GM and Morton, JM 2013. Failure of transfer of passive immunity and agammaglobulinaemia in calves in south-west Victorian dairy herds: prevalence and risk factors. Australian Veterinary Journal 91, 150–158. doi: 10.1111/avj.12025.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weary, DM and Chua, B 2000. Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf 1. Separation at 6 h, 1 day and 4 days after birth. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 69, 177–188. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00128-3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weaver, DM, Tyler, JW, VanMetre, DC, Hostetler, DE and Barrington, GM 2000. Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins in calves. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 14, 596–577. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2000.tb02278.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, SJ, Garber, LP and Hill, GW 1996. Health status of preweaned dairy heifers in the United States. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 29, 185–199. doi: 10.1016/S0167-5877(96)01078-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Windeyer, MC, Leslie, KE, Godden, SM, Hodgins, DC, Lissemore, KD and LeBlanc, SJ 2014. Factors associated with morbidity, mortality, and growth of dairy heifer calves up to 3 months of age. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 113, 231–240. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.10.019.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed