Neonatal Management and Colostrum Feeding of the Calf

M.18, W.1, L.3

List things that can cause failure to transfer passive immunity

• calf born in immunocompromised state

• doesn’t ingest quality colostrum (> 50 mg/ml IgG)

• 
  

list short and long term effects of FTPI

Short term:

• death

• sickness

Long term:

• production effects (growth and milk production)

List FTPI scenarios

• Cows not getting to their feet (nerve damage, Low ca)

• Calves weak (Dystocia, twins)

• Poor quality (nutrition, lack of vaccination)

• Not enough produced (running milk, beef)

• High yielding cows (Dilution)

• Mis-mothering (heifers, c section)

why is colostrum so important? and what happens if it is not adequate?

provides:

• immediate humoral immunity (antibodies)

• local (intestinal) immunity

• energy

• not adequate = failure of passive transfer

List and describe the 5 Qs of colostrum management

• Quality

  • >50g/L IgG in colostrum

• Quantity

  • 150-200 IgG supplied

• Quickly

  • ideally in first 6 hrs of life

• Quantify

• Quietly

  • reduce stress

what is the difference between new born calf gut vs 24 hrs old calf gut

• New born calf gut

  • permeable to large IgG molecules

• 24 hrs old calf gut

  • ‘closes’ and becomes impermeable to large IgG molecules

List the volume and timing of colostrum feeding a calf needs

• 10-15% of its bodyweight

• within first 6-12 hours of life

what is “gold” colostrum?

• 1st milking colostrum

• lots of IgG

• not contaminated with lots of bugs

what is the term for every milking after the 1st one

Transition milk

List the two main measures of colostrum QUALITY and List how we measure colostrum quality (IgG)

Main Measures:

• High antibody

• Low bacteria

How we Measure:

• Colostrometer

• RID

• Brix

what do high bacteria counts in colostrum interfere with?

absorption of IgG

List methods of feeding

• bucket

• esophageal tube

• bottle

• gate rail teat feeders

• mother

List ways we can improve colostrum

Address Issues:

• first milking only

• time calving to first milking

• time calving to first feed

• time collection to first feed

• selection of colostrum ‘donor’ cows

• pasteurization

List cow factors influencing colostrum quality

• age

• breed

• volume of colostrum

• season

• nutrition pre-calving

• vaccination

• pooling

• dry period length

• mastitis/sickness

• delayed collection

List other forms of colostrum (if colostrum from mother not available)

• fresh or frozen colostrum from another cow on same farm

• artificial colostrum (supplement vs. replacer)

• colostrum from another farm