The optimal start for healthy calves

Gert-Jan Gerrits, Technical Sales and Commercial director, Nuscience Cehave Korm

Animal health is of vital importance when raising calves destined to become highly productive dairy cattle or beef cattle. Getting them off to a good start after birth is key to the rest of the raising period. During the first year the aim is achieve a maximum mortality rate of 10%.

It all starts, of course, with the colostrum. Colostrum is imperative to the survival of calves as it contains maternal antibodies that cannot be transferred via the blood. In the last weeks before calving cows therefore produce colostrum of which the greatest part of the protein fraction is made up of pure antibodies or immunoglobulins (Ig). The Ig-content of colostrum can however vary widely between individual animals, from 16 to 150 g/l. Colostrum also contains antimicrobial substances (such as lysozyme, lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase), growth factors, hormones and extra nutritional substances (such as fats, vitamins and minerals). The composition of colostrum rapidly changes post-calving: after just three days the milk has returned to its normal composition. This means that the colostrum has to be administered to the calf as soon as possible after birth. Another reason why this must happen so quickly is the fact that by 24 hours of age a calf loses its ability to transfer the immunoglobulins from the intestine to the bloodstream. So if colostrum is not given to the calf very soon after birth, not only the calf’s immunity is jeopardised, but there is also a greater risk of a microbial (intestinal) infection. So soon after birth the calf’s intestinal cells are unable to differentiate between the protein structure of lgs and micro-organisms and allow everything to pass. The rules to remember are: timing, quantity, fresh and often:

• TIMING: the first colostrum (min 1 — max 2 litres) must be given to the calf within the first 2 hours after birth.
• QUANTITY: within the first 24 hours of life, the calf must be given approximately 10% of its body weight in colostrum.
• FRESH: it is always best to give fresh, farm-produced colostrum (preferably the mother’s own).
• OFTEN: the abomasum is limited in size, so never administer more than 2 litres at a time, otherwise you will encourage ruminal drinkers.

If the calf fails to spontaneously drink the colostrum, (e.g. following a difficult birth or if the new-born has a very thick tongue), then colostrum should be force fed to the calf. However, the majority of experiences with forced feeding indicate that with this method the calf will absorb the antibodies less adequately, so if this is the case ensuring that sufficient colostrum is given is even more important.

As stated earlier, the absorption capacity of antibodies by the intestinal wall rapidly declines postpartum. Even though the intestinal cells do not absorb the Ig after 1 day, the antibodies in the colostrum in the second ration of milk do provide local protection of the intestines. For this reason if there is a serious problem with diarrhoea on a farm it can be advisable to give calves150-250 mlof colostrum twice a day with their milk during the first week of their lives.

More information you can get from the magazine «Milk and Farm» № 1 (8), February 2012