Abstract
The features of different methods of feeding calves with colos-trum and their influence on the growth, development and health of young animals have been studied in a comparative aspect. The studies were car-ried out using newborn Holstein heifers at a modern dairy complex. De-pending on the method of feeding, the calves consumed different amounts of colostrum on the first day: with a suckler mother cow - 10.8 liters, when using a suckling bottle and a nipple pail - 8 liters, using the CalfDrencher system - 7 liters. Different volumes and rates of colostrum entry into the digestive system of newborns had a significant impact on its digestion in calf abomasum and the transition of immunoglobulins into blood serum. It was found that only with the sucking method, 6 hours after drinking the first portion of colostrum, the content of immunoglobulins in the blood se-rum of calves was more than 10 mg/ml, which corresponds to the physio-logical norm. In accordance with the intensity of the transfer of immuno-globulins from colostrum to blood serum, cases of disease in calves were distributed in the first month of life, which affected their further growth and development. As a result, the live weight required for the first insemi-nation (at least 420 kg) was achieved by the Holstein heifers in group I at the age of 16 months, in group II - 18 months, in group III - 17 months, in group IV - 19 months.
Highlights
During the natal period, being in the mother's body, the calf is completely protected from the unwanted effects of various factors due to the functional characteristics of the placenta
The protective function in the body of the newborn is performed by colostrum, which, along with the main nutrients, contains immunoglobulins - antibodies that suppress the action of pathogenic microflora that entered the main life support systems of the calf at birth [1, 2, 3, 4]
From newborn calves of the Holstein breed, obtained from cows after the third calving, four groups were formed, 15 heads each: Group I - keeping on regulated suckling under nursing cows up to 2 months of age; II, III, IV groups - keeping in individual houses up to 2 months of age, drinking colostrum and milk in group II from a suckling bottle, in group III - from a nipple pail, in group IV - on the first day, colostrum was injected into the abomasum using the CalfDrencher device in a volume of 3.5 liters with an interval of 6 hours, from the second day of life - drinking from a nipple pail, 2 liters three times a day with an interval of 6 hours
Summary
During the natal period, being in the mother's body, the calf is completely protected from the unwanted effects of various factors due to the functional characteristics of the placenta It is born “sterile” and, at the same time, is completely devoid of any protective mechanisms in order to independently resist the negative effects of aggressive environmental conditions and pathogenic microflora. In this regard, the protective function in the body of the newborn is performed by colostrum, which, along with the main nutrients, contains immunoglobulins - antibodies that suppress the action of pathogenic microflora that entered the main life support systems of the calf at birth [1, 2, 3, 4]. The main task of research is to study, in a comparative aspect, various methods of feeding calves with colostrum and their influence on the growth, development and health of young animals
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