Abstract
SUMMARY The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional consumption of immuneglobulins associated with high quality colostrum in health and performance of dairy calves. After birth, 80 females were randomly assigned to two treatments: MC) high quality colostrum, supplied in a volume corresponding to 15% of birth weight; and MC+S) high quality colostrum (15% of birth weight) + colostrum supplement. Blood parameters were not affected by the additional supply of immune globulins (Ig) by colostrum supplement feeding. The concentrate and total dry matter intakes were not affected by the administration of colostrum supplementation. The additional intake of Ig through the colostrum supplement did not affect the performance or feed efficiency of calves; however, animals doubled their birth weight at the end of the period, as occurred with MC fed calves. Regarding the health, additional supply of Ig did not affect the number of days with diarrhea, days with fever or medicated days. The additional intake of Ig via colostrum supplement in combination with high quality maternal colostrum have not improved immunity or affected the performance and health of dairy calves.
Highlights
Bovine colostrum consists of a mixture of lacteal secretions and components of blood serum, rich in immune globulins (Ig) and other serum proteins, which are accumulate in the mammary gland during the prepartum dry period (Foley & Otterby, 1978)
Blood parameters were not affected by the additional supply of immune globulins (Ig) by colostrum supplement feeding
The concentrate and total dry matter intakes were not affected by the administration of colostrum supplementation
Summary
Bovine colostrum consists of a mixture of lacteal secretions and components of blood serum, rich in immune globulins (Ig) and other serum proteins, which are accumulate in the mammary gland during the prepartum dry period (Foley & Otterby, 1978). Colostrum supplements can be considered an important management tool for raising health calves These products were developed to be used in association with maternal colostrum in order to guarantee the passive immunity transfer in situations where high-quality colostrum is not available (Quigley et al, 2002). In Brazil, commercial colostrum supplements are formulated from chicken eggs, rich in Ig called IgY and vaccinated for certain diseases Some authors argue that when supplementation is associated with maternal colostrum, it allows an increase in the amount of Ig consumed, providing benefits for the animals (Quezada-Tristan et al, 2014). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the additional consumption of immune globulins through the feeding of a colostrum supplement associated with high quality maternal colostrum in the transfer of passive immunity, health and performance of newborn Holstein calves
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