Colostrum Management Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center Percent

Colostrum Management Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center

Percent calves born dead, died, or were lost prior to weaning 2. 9 2. 5 2. 1 2. 0 1. 5 1. 1 1. 0 1. 1 1. 2 0. 5 0 Born dead 1996 2007 24 hrs or less 24 hrs – 3 wks – weaning NAHMS Beef ‘ 97, ’ 07 -’ 08 Study

Immunity Antibodies from colostrum Passive Antibodies from colostrum Age Passive Immunity Window of vulnerability Passive Age Acquired Active immune response Age Acquired

Failure of Passive Transfer • < 1000 mg/dl at 24 -48 hrs. =FPT • < 800 mg/dl vs. >1600 mg/dl Weaver et al. , 2000; Calloway et al. , 2002 – 3. 2 – 9. 5 times more likely to become sick – 5. 4 times more likely to die Wittum and Perino, 1995 • <2400 mg/dl vs. >2400 mg/dl – 1. 6 times more likely to become sick – 2. 7 times more likely to die • <2400 mg/dl Dewell, et. al. , 2006 – Increased chance of death and treatment – Born to heifers, as twins, or from difficult births=low serum Ig. G levels Waldner and Rosengren, 2009

Colostrum management • “First milk”:

Colostrum management • “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Varies (16 -120 mg/ml) – Fat (5 -7%) – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein (1415%) • Give adequate volume ASAP –?

Colostrum management

Timing

Colostrum management • “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Ig. G varies (16 -120 mg/ml) – Fat (5 -7%) – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein (1415%) • Give adequate volume ASAP • Feed immediately • 7 -10% BW

Rule of Thumb: Feed 1 gram Ig. G per pound of body weight-maybe more? ? Calculation: 100 lbs calf = 45. 5 kg calf ~ 7% of body wt is blood => 3. 2 liters = 32. 0 dl ~ 70% of blood is serum => 22. 4 dl ~6. 7 gm of protein/dl of blood => 150 gm protein (minimum) • ~ 0. 55 gm Ig. G/gm of protein => 82 gm Ig. G • •

Colostrum management • “First milk”: – – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) Fat Vitamin A & E Carbohydrates and protein • Give adequate volume ASAP • Feed immediately • 7 -10% volume BW • 1 gram/lb body wt

Colostrum Quality • Beef vs. Dairy-Ig. G Level? • Cow vs. heifer • Colostrum assessment – Brix Refractometer • 23% – Colostrometer • 80 mg/ml • Calf assessment – Brix Refractometer • 8. 4% – Serum Total Protein • 5. 5 g/ml

Serum Ig. G Correlations-Not Always! % Brix 8. 3 8. 1 8. 3 8. 0 8. 3 8. 2 8. 3 8. 0 8. 3 STP (g/d. L) 5. 2 5. 1 5. 0 5. 5 5. 4 5. 2 4. 7 5. 3 Ig. G (g/L) 10. 2 12. 8 14. 7 15. 7 16. 6 16. 7 20. 6 14. 5 10. 1 16. 7 Colostrum Co. Ltd. Saskatoon

Colostrum management • “First milk”: – – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) Fat Vitamin A & E Carbohydrates and protein • Give adequate volume ASAP • Feed immediately • 1 gram/lb body wt • Sources

Colostrum management • “First milk”: – – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) Fat Vitamin A & E Carbohydrates and protein • Give adequate volume ASAP • Feed immediately • 1 gram/lb body wt • Sources – – Dam Cow herdmate – fresh or frozen Dairy colostrum? Powdered colostrum?

Colostrum Supplement Cost • Replacer – Can be fed alone – What is the appropriate Ig. G level? – What’s missing? • Supplement – Fed with maternal colostrum – Ig. G level?

Cost example Product Ig. G/Dose Cost/g Ig. G Save-A-Caf 55 $12. 29 $0. 22 Colostrix CR 100 $31. 95 $0. 32 Life. Line 100 $25. 95 $0. 26 Calf’s Choice 100 $27. 49 $0. 28 Colostrix CS 50 $11. 95 $0. 24 Manna Pro ? $11. 49 ? Which do you recommend? Why?

Number of Means Average Maximum Minimum Ig. G Intake, g Maternal Colostrum-based Replacer Serum-based Replacer Colostrum-based Supplement Serum-based Supplement 19 21 30 8 4 203 126 129 157 96 447 210 260 297 100 53 18 53 85 90 Serum Ig. G, mg/m. L Maternal Colostrum-based Replacer Serum-based Replacer Colostrum-based Supplement Serum-based Supplement 25 21 30 8 6 16 11 9 10 9 27 20 16 20 11 3 2 5 5 7 Apparent Efficiency of Absorption, % Maternal Colostrum-based Replacer Serum-based Replacer Colostrum-based Supplement 16 14 22 7 23 33 25 12 36 51 38 26 10 12 15 6

Discussion?