Abstract
The role of colostrum management in providing adequate immunological protection to neonatal calves has been widely investigated, and thresholds for colostrum quality, as well as optimum volume and timing for colostrum feeding have been established. However, limited information is available on the effect of colostrum source (single dam or pooled) on passive immunity, as well as subsequent antibody survival in the calf. This study aimed to assess the effect of feeding single-dam colostrum (own and other dam) or pooled colostrum on transfer of passive immunity, and also investigate the rate of depletion of disease-specific antibodies among dairy calves. In total, 320 cows and 119 dairy heifer calves were enrolled in the study. Calves were blood-sampled immediately after birth and received either own-dam, other-dam, or pooled colostrum. Calves were blood-sampled at 24 h to assess serum IgG concentrations and at monthly intervals thereafter to document disease-specific antibody survival. Mean colostrum IgG concentration was higher for other-dam treatment group, whereas own-dam and pooled treatments were similar. For all treatment groups, the mean IgG concentration was >80 mg/mL, exceeding the quality threshold of 50 mg/mL. Mean calf serum IgG concentration was lower for calves fed pooled colostrum compared with those that received colostrum from a single cow. There was a negative association with 24-h serum IgG and calf birth bodyweight; calves <30 kg at birth had the highest 24-h serum IgG concentration. Survival of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea, Salmonella infection, leptospirosis, bovine parainfluenza 3 virus, bovine respiratory syncytical virus, rotavirus, and coronavirus was not associated with colostrum source; however, antibodies to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis had a greater period of survival among calves fed own-dam colostrum. We found that feeding single-dam colostrum can thus improve calf immunity through increased serum IgG levels and antibody survival rates. Furthermore, we hypothesize that immune exclusion may occur with pooled colostrum; therefore, providing pooled colostrum may still be a good practice as long as it can be ensured that enough antibodies are absorbed into the blood stream to deal with pathogens calves may encounter because different dams may have antibodies against different strains of viruses and bacteria, yielding cross protection.
Highlights
Neonatal bovines are dependent on transfer of passive immunity (TPI) to provide protection from infectious diseases in early life (Godden, 2008)
Passive immunity can be acquired from colostrum, the first mammary secretion postparturition, which contains a wide range of immunological factors, such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, and antimicrobials
Mean colostrum IgG concentration was highest for the nonmaternal colostrum (NMC) treatment group, whereas maternal colostrum (MC) and pooled colostrum (PC) yielded similar values (Table 1)
Summary
Neonatal bovines are dependent on transfer of passive immunity (TPI) to provide protection from infectious diseases in early life (Godden, 2008). Passive immunity can be acquired from colostrum, the first mammary secretion postparturition, which contains a wide range of immunological factors, such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, and antimicrobials (e.g., lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase; Stelwagen et al, 2009; McGrath et al, 2016). Immunoglobulins, known as antibodies, are produced in the maternal bloodstream by lymphocytes in response to foreign antibodies, and they account for over 70% of the total protein content in colostrum (Larson, 1992). Immunoglobulins present in colostrum can be divided into the following 5 subclasses: IgM, IgA, IgG, IgE, and IgD. The most abundant immunoglobulin subclass in colostrum is IgG, which has the greatest specificity and affinity for target pathogens (Hurley, 2003). Colostrum quality is determined mainly by IgG concentration, and a concentration of ≥50 mg/mL is considered as good quality (Kruse, 1970)
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