Effects of Feeding Heat-Treated Colostrum on Passive Transfer of Immune and Nutritional Parameters in Neonatal Dairy Calves

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to describe the effect of on-farm heat treatment of colostrum on colostral bacteria counts and IgG concentrations. The second objective was to describe the effect of feeding heat-treated (vs. raw) colostrum on passive transfer of colostral immune and nutritional parameters in neonatal calves. Pooled batches of colostrum were mixed and divided equally: one half was fed raw whereas the other half was fed after heat treatment at 60 degrees C for 60 min using a commercial on-farm batch pasteurizer. Colostrum samples were cultured for total bacteria count and total coliform count and analyzed for total IgG concentration. Forty-nine Holstein calves were fed either raw colostrum (n = 24) or heat-treated colostrums (n = 25) within 1 to 2 h after birth. Serum samples collected from calves at 0 h (precolostrum) and 24 h (postcolostrum) were assayed for serum total protein; IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations; peripheral total leukocyte counts; neutrophil counts; lymphocyte counts; lymphocyte phenotypes; vitamin A, vitamin E, cholesterol, and beta-carotene concentrations. Serum samples collected from 2- to 5-d-old calves were tested for immunoglobulin function via a bovine viral diarrhea virus type I serum neutralization titer and for neutrophil bacterial opsonization activity. On-farm batch heat treatment of colostrum at 60 degrees C for 60 min resulted in lower colostrum bacteria concentrations while maintaining colostral IgG concentration. Calves fed heat-treated colostrum had significantly greater serum total protein and IgG concentrations at 24 h, plus greater apparent efficiency of IgG absorption (total protein = 6.3 mg/dL; IgG = 22.3 mg/mL; apparent efficiency of absorption = 35.6%) compared with calves fed raw colostrum (TP = 5.9 mg/dL; IgG = 18.1 mg/mL; apparent efficiency of absorption = 26.1%). There was no effect of treatment on serum concentrations of IgA, IgM, vitamin A, vitamin E, cholesterol, beta-carotene or vitamin E:cholesterol ratio, or on serum bovine viral diarrhea virus type I serum neutralization titers. There was no difference between treatment groups when examining calf plasma total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, or neutrophil opsonization activity. However, the latter results were considered inconclusive.

Composition and properties of bovine colostrum: a review

“…Similarly, found that heating colostrum at 60°C for 60 min decreased total plate counts and coliform counts, and did not affect native IgG concentration. Johnson et al (2007) described increased efficiency of IgG absorption and, consequently, higher serum IgG concentration in calves fed heat-treated (60°C for 60 min) compared to raw colostrum. These results are consistent with those of Godden et al (2012) who, in addition, reported that calves fed heat-treated (60°C for 60 min) colostrum were at significantly lower risk for treatment of any illness in the preweaning period compared with calves fed unheated colostrum.…”

Aquisição de imunidade passiva em cabritos alimentados com colostro de cabras com e sem mastite

“…Esses resultados são justificados pela baixa concentração de IgA no colostro de ruminantes, representando, aproximadamente, 5% do total de imunoglobulinas presentes (Tizard, 2009). Essa proteína, do ponto de vista clínico, é de pequena relevância para os ruminantes (Johnson et al, 2007).…”

Caracterización de la transferencia de inmunidad pasiva en terneras de lechería.

“…Las muestras de sangre se manipularon de acuerdo al procedimiento descrito por Johnson et al (2007), donde las muestras fueron refrigeradas durante la noche a 4 °C, posteriormente se centrifugaron a 3000 rpm durante quince minutos para separar la fracción sérica. En seguida, la concentración de PST se determinó utilizando un refractómetro de mano (Atago Master-Sur/Nα, Bellevue, WA).…”