Colostrum quality affects immune system establishment and intestinal development of neonatal calves

Abstract

The first meal of a neonatal calf after birth is crucial for survival and health. The present experiment was performed to assess the effects of colostrum quality on IgG passive transfer, immune and antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology and histology in neonatal calves. Twenty-eight Holstein neonatal male calves were used in the current study, 24 of which were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: those that received colostrum (GrC), transitional milk (GrT, which was obtained after the first milking on 2-3 d after calving), and bulk tank milk (GrB) only at birth. The 4 extra neonatal calves who were not fed any milk were assigned to the control group and were killed immediately after birth to be a negative control to small intestinal morphology and histology detection. Calves in GrC gained more body weight than in GrT, whereas GrB calves lost 0.4 kg compared with the birth weight. Serum total protein, IgG, and superoxide dismutase concentrations were highest in GrC, GrT was intermediate, whereas GrB was the lowest on d 2, 3, and 7. Apparent efficiency of absorption at 48 h, serum complement 3 (C3), and complement 4 (C4) on d 2, 3, and 7 in GrB was low compared with GrC and GrT. On the contrary, malondialdehyde on d 7 increased in GrB. Calves in GrC had better villus length and width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth (V/C) value, and mucosal thickness in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, whereas GrT calves had lower villus length and width, crypt depth, and mucosal thickness than those fed colostrum. Villi of calves in GrB were nonuniform, sparse, severely atrophied, and apically abscised, and Peyer's patches and hydroncus were detected. Overall, colostrum is the best source for calves in IgG absorption, antioxidant activities, and serum growth metabolites, and promoting intestinal development. The higher quality of colostrum calves ingested, the faster immune defense mechanism and the more healthy intestinal circumstances they established.

Bovine colostrum enriched with lyophilized bovine colostrum stimulates intestinal epithelium renewal of Holstein calves in the first days of life

“…Thus, the results of the above authors and the result of the present work support the hypothesis that colostrum with high IgG concentration may interfere significantly with intestinal absorptive mucosa, decreasing intestinal absorptive area in the first 72 hr of life. Yang, Zou, Wu, Li, and Cao (), in turn, observed that calves receiving colostrum showed higher villus height, crypt depth and muscle layers thickness compared to calves receiving transition milk at 7 days of life. Steinhoff‐Wagner et al.…”

“…Considering intestinal cell renewal within three to 4 days (Sangild, ), the results of Yang et al. () and Steinhoff‐Wagner et al. () indicate the possibility of a lower rate of cell turnover in an attempt to maintain a first generation of epithelial cells that have the ability to absorb macromolecules, revealing that different mechanisms regulate the development and growth of the intestinal epithelium.…”

Thermogenesis and some rearing strategies of dairy calves at low temperature – a review

“…These hormones promote gastrointestinal tract development, production of digestive enzymes, and absorption capacity of nutrients (Bach, 2012). Yang et al (2015) providing for 28 newborn calves first milking colostrum, transitional milk or bulk tank milk (4 L immediately after birth and then 2 L at 8 h after birth) reported that calves fed high quality colostrum presented higher IgG absorption at 24 and 48 h after feeding as compared to transitional milk or bulk tank milk. Additionally, in the first week calves fed first milking colostrum also presented higher antioxidant activities and serum growth factors, villus length and width, crypt depth, and mucosal thickness as compared to transitional milk or bulk tank milk.…”

Changes in the content of immunostimulating components of colostrum obtained from dairy cows at different levels of production

“…Colostrum is responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system. It stimulates the digestive system and facilitates the removal of the first fetal stool (meconium) . The effectiveness of colostrum is determined by the time of administration and the level of immune proteins .…”

“…It stimulates the digestive system and facilitates the removal of the first fetal stool (meconium). 13,14 The effectiveness of colostrum is determined by the time of administration and the level of immune proteins. 3 A calf up to 6 h after birth should receive the first portion of colostrum, with an average content of 150-200 g of immunoglobulin.…”