Abstract
Colostrum feeding is essential for the transfer of passive immunity and health of newborn calves. Information on current colostrum management practices to reduce calf morbidity and mortality is important but lacking for Dutch dairy herds. We therefore conducted a survey to investigate colostrum management strategies on Dutch dairy farms. The survey was specifically focused on the most recently born calf and was returned by 107 respondents (response rate of 13.4%). The mean amount of colostrum fed at first feeding was 2.9 liters. Overall, 79% of farmers provided the calf with at least 6 liters of colostrum in up to three feedings. The majority of respondents (84%) claimed to provide the calf with colostrum for the first time within 2 h post-partum. Using ordinal logistic regression and Wilcoxon rank sum test, we found no differences in time to first colostrum feeding or total amount of colostrum fed between bull calves and heifer calves, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression showed no significant differences in time to first colostrum feeding or time between calving and removing the calf from the dam between AMS and conventional milking herds. Two sample T-test comparing the total volume of colostrum showed no significant difference between AMS and conventional milking herds. Time of day at which a calf was born affected both volume fed at first colostrum feeding and time until first colostrum feeding. Calves born between 00.00 and 06.00 were significantly at risk of receiving the first colostrum later as compared to calves born at other times. Calves born in the evening received on average a lower amount of colostrum at first feeding. Survey results on colostrum management on most Dutch dairy farms are in agreement with the advice to feed as soon as possible after parturition and to provide at least 6 liters within 24 h of age. The current study points at time of calving as a potential risk factor for sub-optimal colostrum feeding. Further research is necessary to determine the consequences of this observation.
Highlights
Calf health and mortality are important issues in the dairy industry
In some surveys some illogical values were reported: two farmers reported to have provided physiologically unlikely high amounts of colostrum with the third feeding (10 and 12 liters) and we reported these data as missing values
Out of the 800 dairy farmers invited to participate in the survey (400 Automatic Milking System (AMS), 400 conventional milking system) a total of 107 surveys responded, an overall survey response of 13.4%
Summary
Calf health and mortality are important issues in the dairy industry. Calves are born agammaglobulinemic [1, 2] and rely for their first humoral specific immune protection on antibody transfer via (maternal) colostrum. Derived antibodies from colostrum provide protection both locally in the gut and systemically after intestinal absorption [2, 3]. This passive protection is crucial for neonates, as their immune system is fully developed, but lacks. Insufficient uptake of maternal antibodies is termed Failed transfer of Passive Immunity (FPI) [2,3,4], and severely increases the risk of infections, disease and death. Feeding a calf too late hinders the intestinal absorption of maternal antibodies due to the process of gut closure [2, 4]. Colostrum contains high concentrations of growth factors, antimicrobial factors [10] and hormones [3]
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