Voluntary Colostrum Intake in Holstein Heifer Calves

Authors

  • Kelvin Urday Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, A341 Clydesdale Hall, and the MU Public Health Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
  • Munashe Chigerwe Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Jeff W. Tyler Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, A341 Clydesdale Hall, and the MU Public Health Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol42no2p198-200

Keywords:

bovine, colostrum, neonatal calves, calves, dairy cattle, heifers, newborn animals, nipple drinkers, suckling, sucklings

Abstract

An observational study was done to determine voluntary colostrum intake at the first feeding in nipple bottle-fed Holstein heifer calves. Thirty-two Holstein heifer calves resulting from observed births were hand fed using a nipple bottle for a total of 15 minutes at two hours of age. Each calf was offered a maximum of 3 liters (L) total intake. Median colostral intake was 2.34 L with a range of 0.0 to 3.0 L. Ten (31.25%) calves consumed less than 2 L and 14 calves (43.75%) consumed the maximum 3 L offered. Exclusive voluntary intake using a nipple bottle is an inadequate method of colostrum administration unless more rigorous feeding practices than those described are used. Under conditions of limited labor availability, bottle-fed calves should be offered an unlimited volume of colostrum at the time of the first feeding, and tube fed using an oroesophageal feeder if they fail to ingest a minimum of 2 L in a timely manner. This practice improves the likelihood that calves will achieve consistent, adequate passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins.

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Published

2008-06-01

How to Cite

Urday, K., Chigerwe, M., & Tyler, J. W. (2008). Voluntary Colostrum Intake in Holstein Heifer Calves. The Bovine Practitioner, 42(2), 198–200. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol42no2p198-200

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Articles