Risk Factors Associated with Colostrum Quality in Norwegian Dairy Cows

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate colostrum quality in Norwegian dairy cows based on IgG content, and to identify associations between possible risk factors and low colostral IgG. A longitudinal cross-sectional survey on calf health in Norway was performed between June 2004 and December 2006. The participating dairy herds were randomly selected among herds registered in the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System as having at least 15 cow years. The participating farmers were requested to sample 10 mL of colostrum from the first milking after calving from 12 cows that had calved during the defined project period of 365 d. Colostrum samples from 1,250 cows from 119 herds were collected. The material consisted of 451, 337, 213, and 249 samples collected from cows in their first, second, third, and fourth parity or more, respectively. Analysis was performed on IgG content by using single radial immunodiffusion. Mixed models with herd as a cluster were fit by using grams of IgG per liter of colostrum as the dependent variable for the statistical analyses. The IgG content in the colostrum sampled ranged from 4 to 235 g/L, with a median of 45.0 g of IgG/L, with the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles being 23.1, 31.4, 63.6, and 91.6 g of IgG/L, respectively. Altogether, 57.8% of the samples contained less than the desired 50 g of IgG/L of colostrum. Cows in their fourth parity or more were found to have significantly higher levels of IgG per liter of colostrum than cows in their first or second parity. Colostrum from cows in their second parity had the lowest level of IgG. Cows calving during the winter months (December, January, and February) produced colostrum with a significantly lower IgG content compared with cows calving in any other season of the year. Somatic cell count, measured after calving, was significantly higher in cows producing colostrum of inferior quality compared with those producing high-quality colostrum. Of the total variation in colostrum quality, 13.7% could be explained by cluster effects within herd. The variation in IgG content in colostrum produced by Norwegian dairy cows indicates a need for improved colostrum quality control and subsequent adjustment of the colostrum feeding regimen to ensure a protective immunological status for newborn calves.

Factors associated with the concentration of immunoglobulin G in the colostrum of dairy cows

“…The range of IgG concentration (13 to 256 g/l) was similar to the ranges reported in other studies; Baumrucker et al (2010) reported values of 9 to 166 g/l in a US study of 214 cows while concentrations of 2 to 235 g/l were reported in a Norwegian study (Gulliksen et al, 2008). This wide range in colostral IgG concentration demonstrates the enormous variation that exists between individual cows.…”

“…The nutritional superiority of grazed grass relative to grass silage has been long established (Mayne and Laidlaw, 1995) and this may have contributed to the high quality of colostrum of these autumn calving cows in particular and of cows in this study in general. Similarly, Gulliksen et al (2008) reported that cows calving during the months following the pasture season produced colostrum of higher quality compared with cows calving during other seasons. While some studies to date have shown that IgG concentration of colostrum is not affected by prepartum maternal nutrition, in terms of protein and energy requirements (Blecha et al, 1981;Hough et al, 1990;Nowak et al, 2012), further research is required to elucidate the complex relationship between nutrition and colostrum quality.…”

“…Although much research has been conducted on the factors associated with colostrum quality in cows, including parity (Pritchett et al, 1991;Gulliksen et al, 2008;Kehoe et al, 2011), breed (Muller and Ellinger, 1981), length of the dry period (Pritchett et al, 1991), time interval from calving to milking (Lomba et al, 1978;Moore et al, 2005;Morin et al, 2010) and volume of colostrum produced (Kruse, 1970;Pritchett et al, 1991), few studies have examined the factors associated with the colostrum quality of cows in seasonal, grass-based systems such as those that exist in Ireland. Moreover, only a limited number of studies have attempted to quantify the relationship between colostral IgG concentration and colostral weight (Pritchett et al, 1991;Guy et al, 1994;Baumrucker et al, 2010).…”

Nutritional and microbiological quality of bovine colostrum samples in Brazil

“…The average value of Ig concentration (59.8 mg/mL) is below the average that was presented by Morril et al (2012) for 827 samples in the United States and the value that was reported by Bielmann et al (2010) for 288 samples in Canada (69.7 and 94.4 mg/mL); however, it is above the 34.9 mg/mL value, representing 55 samples from Kehoe et al (2007) in the state of Pennsylvania, USA. Gulliksen et al (2008) reported that most of the Norwegian cows produce colostrum with quality under the recommendations for feeding newborn calves. In a Brazilian study, Silper et al (2012) found an average Ig concentration of 77 mg/dL, with a 32% coefficient of variation for different crossbreeding of Holstein cows.…”

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

“…Diversos estudios han mostrado que el calostro de las novillas de primer parto presenta una concentración de Igs considerablemente menor que el de vacas con más lactancias y que a su vez, dicha concentración se incrementa conforme aumenta el número de partos (Moore et al, 2005;Gulliksen et al, 2008;Kehoe et al, 2011). Una razón es que las novillas han sido expuestas a antígenos por menor tiempo que vacas con más lactancias; además, el mecanismo de transporte de Igs hacia la glándula mamaria también puede estar menos desarrollado que el de vacas adultas (Devery y Larson, 1983 Cuadro 2.…”