Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-22dnz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T04:10:04.954Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors associated with passive immunity transfer in dairy calves: combined effect of delivery time, amount and quality of the first colostrum meal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2017

I. Lora ,
A. Barberio ,
B. Contiero ,
P. Paparella ,
L. Bonfanti ,
M. Brscic ,
A. L. Stefani  and
F. Gottardo
I. Lora
Affiliation:
PhD Course in Animal and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
A. Barberio
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
B. Contiero
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
P. Paparella
Affiliation:
Associazione Veneta Allevatori (AVA), Corso Australia 67, 35136 Padova, Italy
L. Bonfanti
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
M. Brscic
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
A. L. Stefani
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
F. Gottardo*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
*
†E-mail: flaviana.gottardo@unipd.it
Get access

Abstract

Despite the well-known importance of an adequate colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) transfer to calf health and survival, failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) remains a widespread problem in dairy farming. The aim of this study was to investigate the management factors associated with FTPI in newborn calves, evaluating particularly the combined effect of delivery time, amount and quality of the first colostrum meal. The study was conducted from March to August 2014 on 21 Italian dairy farms. Farmers were asked as first to answer a farm-level questionnaire on calf management. Blood sampling was then performed on overall 244 calves (1 to 5 days of age) born from Holstein cows, and a sample of the first colostrum meal of each calf was collected. Individual information on calves and the respective colostrum management were recorded. Serum and colostrum Ig concentrations were assessed by electrophoresis. A mixed effects multivariable logistic regression model was used to investigate the association of the variables obtained from both the management questionnaire and the individual calf data with FTPI (calf serum Ig concentration <10.0 g/l). A cumulative colostrum management score (CMS) that considered delivery time, amount and quality of the first colostrum meal was generated for 236 calves, with higher values indicating better colostrum management. Overall, 41.0% of the calves were found having FTPI, and within-farm percentage of FTPI was over 20.0% in 71.4% of the farms. The risk of having FTPI was higher both for Holstein purebred calves compared with Holstein-beef crossbreds and for females compared with males. Moreover, it increased by 13% with every hour of delay of the first colostrum meal provision since birth, whereas it decreased by 59% and 3%, respectively, with every additional liter of colostrum given and every additional gram of Ig per liter contained in the colostrum fed. Calf serum Ig concentration varied significantly according to the CMS, increasing by 1.53 g/l with every additional CMS point. In order to completely avoid FTPI, calves should receive at least 2.5 l of high-quality colostrum (Ig concentration >87.6 g/l) within 1.0 h from birth. Considerable improvements are still needed about colostrum management for newborn calves in dairy farms. The results of this study will help in developing farm-specific programs for reducing the occurrence of FTPI.

Keywords

calfcolostrumpassive immunity transfermanagement factor
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , May 2018 , pp. 1041 - 1049
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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

Beam, AL, Lombard, JE, Kopral, CA, Garber, LP, Winter, AL, Hicks, JA and Schlater, JL 2009. Prevalence of failure of passive transfer of immunity in newborn heifer calves and associated management practices on US dairy operations. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 3973–3980.Google Scholar
Berge, ACB, Lindeque, P, Moore, DA and Sischo, WM 2005. A clinical trial evaluating prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic use on health and performance of preweaned calves. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 2166–2177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cavirani, S, Taddei, S, Cabassi, SCM, Donofrio, G, Toni, F, Ghidini, F, Piancastelli, C, Schiano, E and Flammini, CF 2005. Deficit di IgG colostrali e di trasferimento di immunità passiva colostrale in allevamenti bovini da latte ad alta produzione. Large Animal Review 11, 17–21.Google Scholar
Ceniti, C, Trimboli, F, Massimini, G, Morittu, VM, Gigliotti, T, Cicino, C and Britti, D 2016. Valutazione della concentrazione delle immunoglobuline nel colostro ovino mediante strumento di routine per l’elettroforesi capillare. Large Animal Review 22, 33–36.Google Scholar
Chigerwe, M, Tyler, JW, Summers, MK, Middleton, JR, Schultz, LG and Nagy, DW 2009. Evaluation of factors affecting serum IgG concentrations in bottle-fed calves. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234, 785–789.Google Scholar
Daniel, WW 1999. Biostatistics: a foundation for analysis in the health sciences, 7th edition. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, NY, USA.Google Scholar
Donovan, GA, Dohoo, IR, Montgomery, DM and Bennett, FL 1998. Associations between passive immunity and morbidity and mortality in dairy heifers in Florida, USA. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 34, 31–46.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.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godden, S 2008. Colostrum management for dairy calves. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 24, 19–39.Google Scholar
Heinrichs, AJ and Heinrichs, BS 2011. A prospective study of calf factors affecting first-lactation and lifetime milk production and age of cows when removed from the herd. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 336–341.Google Scholar
Jaster, EH 2005. Evaluation of quality, quantity, and timing of colostrum feeding on immunoglobulin G1 absorption in Jersey calves. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 296–302.Google Scholar
Jayappa, H, Davis, R, Dierks, L, Sweeney, D and Wasmoen, T 2008. Demonstration of passive protection in neonatal calves against colibacillosis following immunization of pregnant heifers at 3 months of gestation. Veterinary Therapeutics 9, 283–289.Google Scholar
Kohara, J, Hirai, T, Mori, K, Ishizaki, H and Tsunemitsu, H 1997. Enhancement of passive immunity with maternal vaccine against newborn calf diarrhea. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 59, 1023–1025.Google Scholar
Lorenz, I, Fagan, J and More, SJ 2011. Calf health from birth to weaning. II. Management of diarrhoea in pre-weaned calves. Irish Veterinary Journal 64, 9.Google Scholar
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.Google ScholarPubMed
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.Google Scholar
Mee, JF 2013. Why do so many calves die on modern dairy farms and what can we do about calf welfare in the future? Animals 3, 1036–1057.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morin, DE, McCoy, GC and Hurley, WL 1997. Effects of quality, quantity, and timing of colostrum feeding and addition of a dried colostrum supplement on immunoglobulin G1 absorption in Holstein bull calves. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 747–753.Google Scholar
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.Google Scholar
Quigley, JD and Drewry, JJ 1998. Nutrient and immunity transfer from cow to calf pre- and postcalving. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2779–2790.Google Scholar
SAS Institute Inc 2009. SAS/STAT® 9.2 User’s Guide, 2nd edition. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Stott, GH and Fellah, A 1983. Colostral immunoglobulin absorption linearly related to concentration for calves. Journal of Dairy Science 66, 1319–1328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swan, H, Godden, S, Bey, R, Wells, S, Fetrow, J and Chester-Jones, H 2007. Passive transfer of immunoglobulin G and preweaning health in Holstein calves fed a commercial colostrum replacer. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 3857–3866.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tóthová, C, Nagy, O, Seidel, H and Kováč, G 2013. Serum protein electrophoretic pattern in clinically healthy calves and cows determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Comparative Clinical Pathology 22, 15–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trotz-Williams, LA, Leslie, KE and Peregrine, AS 2008. Passive immunity in Ontario dairy calves and investigation of its association with calf management practices. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 3840–3849.Google Scholar
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
Uetake, K 2013. Newborn calf welfare: a review focusing on mortality rates. Animal Science Journal 84, 101–105.Google Scholar
Vasseur, E, Pellerin, D, de Passillé, AM, Winckler, C, Lensink, BJ, Knierim, U and Rushen, J 2012. Assessing the welfare of dairy calves: outcome-based measures of calf health versus input-based measures of the use of risky management practices. Animal Welfare 21, 77–86.Google Scholar
Vasseur, E, Rushen, J and de Passillé, AM 2009. Does a calf’s motivation to ingest colostrum depend on time since birth, calf vigor, or provision of heat? Journal of Dairy Science 92, 3915–3921.Google Scholar
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.Google Scholar
Waldner, CL and Rosengren, LB 2009. Factors associated with serum immunoglobulin levels in beef calves from Alberta and Saskatchewan and association between passive transfer and health outcomes. Canadian Veterinary Journal 50, 275–281.Google Scholar
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.Google Scholar
Wells, SJ, Dargatz, DA and Ott, SL 1996. Factors associated with mortality to 21 days of life in dairy heifers in the United States. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 29, 9–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Lora et al supplementary material 1

Lora et al supplementary material

Download Lora et al supplementary material 1(File)
File 34.2 KB