Factors associated with colostrum immunoglobulin G concentration in northern‐Victorian dairy cows

Abstract

The majority of samples assessed were below industry standard. Herd, lactation number, calf suckling or cow leaking colostrum prior to harvesting and time between calving and colostrum harvesting were factors that influenced colostrum IgG concentration. The results support current industry recommendations of harvesting colostrum shortly after parturition (ideally within 12 h of calving) and testing the quality of all colostrum prior to feeding to dairy calves.

A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

“…We reported previously that the timing of colostrum harvesting affected colostrum quality, with higher quality colostrum harvested from cows within 12 h of calving compared with colostrum harvested later, suggesting it is best to harvest the colostrum as soon as possible after calving to improve quality.…”

“…Those authors also explored potential risk factors for both FTPI and agammaglobulinaemia and found that breed of the calf and the rate of removing calves from the calving area affected the levels of FTPI and agammaglobulinaemia in calves . More recently, we reported on the risk factors that affected colostrum quality in northern Victorian dairy cows . Although a number of colostrum management and feeding practices were examined in those studies, other aspects of colostrum hygiene, colostrum storage practices and management of dry cows leading up to calving were not examined.…”

Inhaltsstoffe des bovinen Kolostrums – eine Übersicht

“…Kehoe et al (51) ermittelten eine IgG-Konzentration von 83,5 mg/ml in der ersten, 92,9 mg/ml in der zweiten, 107,4 mg/ml in der dritten und 113,3 mg/ml in der vierten Laktation. Phipps et al (84) stellten fest, dass multipare Kühe ab der vierten Laktation im Durchschnitt die höchste Kolostrumqualität aufwiesen (> 50 g/l IgG bei 49,3 % der Tiere), während diese bei Kühen in der zweiten Laktation am schlechtesten war (> 50 g/l IgG nur bei 27,9 % der Tiere). Die Autoren führten das auf ein höheres Kolostrumvolumen als in den restlichen Laktationen und somit einen stärkeren Verdünnungseffekt zurück.…”

In this issue – July 2017

“…4 Neonatal calves require immunoglobulins within the first 24 hours of life before the intestinal tract develops and prevents IgA uptake. 4 Neonatal calves require immunoglobulins within the first 24 hours of life before the intestinal tract develops and prevents IgA uptake.…”

“…A paper from Victoria reports on the use of the Brix refractometer to assess the colostrum IgG concentration in first-milking cows. 4 Neonatal calves require immunoglobulins within the first 24 hours of life before the intestinal tract develops and prevents IgA uptake. High-quality colostrum, identified as being above a Brix percentage of 22, is recommended, but the quality has been shown to vary between cows and between herds.…”