Performance of calves fed fresh colostrum from their dams, compared with that of calves fed colostrum from cows other than their dams

Authors

  • G. A. Donovan Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • L. J. Sims Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • K. Fisk Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • W. Sapp Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • P. Pinedo Texas AgriLife Research, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Amarillo, TX 79101

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20123965

Keywords:

colostrum, calf health, immunoglobulins, maternal leukocytes, cytokine protein, preservative, performance, cold storage

Abstract

Adequate colostrum feeding is the most important management factor determining calf health and survival. Colostrum not only provides immunoglobulins, but it is also an important source of nutrients and nonspecific immune factors, including maternal leukocytes and cytokine proteins, all of which protect the newborn calf against infectious diseases early in life. Considering the potential role of these non-immunoglobulin factors, our hypothesis was that dairy calves fed fresh colostrum from their dams would perform better than those fed colostrum from cows other than their dams that had been stored cold and had a preservative added. The objective was to assess performance (growth and survival) of calves fed fresh colostrum from their dams, compared with that of calves fed colostrum from cows other than their dams that had been treated with a potassium sorbate preservative and stored refrigerated (up to 48 hours) or frozen.

Downloads

Published

2012-09-20

Issue

Section

Posters

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3