A Survey of Bovine Colostrum Composition and Colostrum Management Practices on Pennsylvania Dairy Farms

Abstract

Colostrum composition and management were surveyed via sample and data collection from 55 dairy farms in Pennsylvania. Colostrum samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, total solids, ash, Ig, lactoferrin, water- and fat-soluble vitamins, and minerals. Mean percentages of fat, protein, and lactose in colostrum were 6.7, 14.9, and 2.5, respectively. Concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgA, IgM, and lactoferrin were 35.0, 6.0, 1.7, 4.3, and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. Mean concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins, including retinol, tocopherol, and beta-carotene, were 4.9, 2.9, and 0.7 microg/g, respectively. Mean concentrations of water-soluble vitamins were 0.34, 0.90, 4.55, 0.60, 0.15, 0.21, and 0.04 microg/mL for niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine, respectively. Mean concentrations (mg/kg) of selected minerals in colostrum were also determined (Ca 4,716; P 4,452; Mg 733; Na 1,058; K 2,845; Zn 38; Fe 5.3; Cu 0.3; S 2,595; and Mn 0.1). The findings of this study revealed that the mean concentrations of most nutrients in colostrum have increased when compared with values previously reported. Results also showed that management practices have improved over time, particularly with regard to colostrum storage and feeding. Additionally, we observed that herd size influenced colostrum management and quality. It can be inferred, based on these findings, that although improvements have been made with regard to colostrum management and quality, there is still a need to educate producers on issues related to storage and timely feeding of colostrum to increase passive transfer and decrease the rate of calf morbidity and mortality.

Factors affecting immunoglobulin concentration in colostrum of healthy Holstein cows immediately after delivery

“…Immunoglobulin concentrations in ϐirst milking colostrum (9,200 mg/dL IgG; 400mg/dLIgA ; and 800mg/dL IgM) were greater than 4,820 mg/dL IgG1 reported by Pritchett et al (1991), 6,730mg/dL IgG reported by Quigley et al (1994), and 3,496mg/dL IgG1 reported by Kehoe et al (2007). These differences may be related to breed, nutritional and sanitary management of the herd, and the technique used in the Ig assay, once Quigley et al (1994) and Kehoe et al (2007) used a colostrometer for indirect quantiϐication of Ig levels in colostrum.…”

“…These differences may be related to breed, nutritional and sanitary management of the herd, and the technique used in the Ig assay, once Quigley et al (1994) and Kehoe et al (2007) used a colostrometer for indirect quantiϐication of Ig levels in colostrum. However, pre-delivery vaccination of cows may have been the main factor inϐluencing Ig concentrations, which were greater than the ones reported by these other authors.…”

“…Pritchett et al (1991) reported mean values of 4,800mg/ dL IgG1 in the colostrum of Holstein cows and a gradual increase to values ranging from 4,200 to 5,500mg/dL IgG1 in cows from the ϐirst to the ϐifth lactation. Kehoe et al (2007) reported values equal to 3,500mg/ dL IgG1, 600mg/dL IgG2, 170mg/dL IgA and 430mg/dL IgM in the colostrum of Holstein cows. Vaz et al (2004) evaluated the quality of colostrum in terms of Ig concentration in Holstein and mixed breed cows by means of zinc sulfate turbidity test.…”

“…They are transferred from blood to the udder during colostrogenesis (Lascelles 1979, Larson et al 1980, Barrington & Parrish 2001. However, Ig concentration in colostrum is still affected by several other factors, such as breed, number of milkings after delivery, number of lactations, length of the dry period, season when calving took place and body condition score (Oyeniyi & Hunter 1978, Muller & Ellinger 1981, Pritchett et al 1991, Shearer et al 1992, Quigley et al 1994, Filteau et al 2003, Jaster 2005, Kehoe et al 2007.…”

Evaluation of an on-farm method to assess colostrum IgG content in sows

“…Devillers et al (2004) reported that an average volume of 3.6 l (range from 1.9 to 5.3 l) of colostrum was produced by sow, and IgG concentration in colostrum has been measured to average around 50 mg/ml (Ariza-Nieto et al, 2011). Production of colostrum by cows on an average was 11.2 l, with a mean composition of fat 6.7%, total solids 27.6%, and total protein 14.9%, and contains 30 to 96 mg/ml of IgG (Morin et al, 2001;Kehoe et al, 2007). In mares colostrum volume was 5.1 l, with a much higher IgG concentration of 440 mg/ml, and with 24.3% total solids, and 26.3% fat (Csapo et al, 1995).…”