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Risk factors for poor colostrum quality and failure of passive transfer in Scottish dairy calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2021

Alexandra Haggerty ,
Colin Mason ,
Kathryn Ellis  and
Katharine Denholm
Alexandra Haggerty
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK
Colin Mason
Affiliation:
Scotland's Rural College, DumfriesDG1 1DX, UK
Kathryn Ellis
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK
Katharine Denholm*
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Katharine Denholm, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Failure of passive transfer (FPT) has health, welfare and economic implications for calves. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of 370 dairy calf serum samples from 38 Scottish dairy farms was measured via radial immunodiffusion (RID) to determine FPT prevalence. IgG concentration, total bacteria count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) of 252 colostrum samples were also measured. A questionnaire was completed at farm enrollment to investigate risk factors for FPT and poor colostrum quality at farm-level. Multivariable mixed effect logistic and linear regressions were carried out to determine significant risk factors for FPT and colostrum quality. Prevalence of FPT at calf level was determined to be 14.05%. Of 252 colostrum samples, 111 (44.05%) failed to meet Brix thresholds for colostrum quality. Of these 28 and 38 samples also exceeded TBC and TCC thresholds, respectively. Increased time between parturition and colostrum harvesting was numerically (non-significantly) associated with a colostrum Brix result <22%, and increased time spent in a bucket prior to feeding or storing was significantly associated with high TBC (≥100 000 cfu/ml and also ≥10 000 cfu/ml). High TBC values in colostrum were significantly associated with lower serum IgG concentrations. This study highlights associations between colostrum quality and FPT in dairy calves as well as potential risk factors for reduced colostrum quality; recommending some simple steps producers can take to maximise colostrum quality on farm.

Keywords

Colostrumdairy calvesFPTrisk factors
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , August 2021 , pp. 337 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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