GIVING THE CALF THE BEST START

Presented by Jud Heirichs, PhDAnimal Science Department

Outline

• Newborn calf care

• Colostrum and IgG

• Hydrated

• Reduce stress

• Low level of disease transfer

Maternity Pens

• Disinfected

• Proper Flooring

(non-skid surface)

• Adequate Bedding

(6 inches)

• Adequate Space

(100-125 sq.ft.)

• Good Ventilation/Draft Free

• Ample Lighting

• Access to Feed and Water

• Restraint

First 24 Hours are Critical to a Calf’s Survival

• Breathing

• Dip Navel

Proper Navel

Dip

• Free of Bedding and Dirt

• Treat Exposed Navel

• Iodine Tincture (<7%)

• Lethargy

• Pain/swelling

• Decreased

appetite

• Labored

breathing

• Joint swelling

• Septic

infections

• Death

Navel Complications

• Dry

• Well-Healed

• Pain-Free

• No Swelling

• Closed

• No Hernia

• Breathing

• Dip Navel

• Dry

• Warm/Clean

Minnesota Extension

Thermoneutral Zone

Newborn calf has

3% body fat vs 18%

human infant

• Breathing

• Dip Navel

• Dry

• Warm/Clean

• Colostrum

Colostrum is the number one priority for the newborn calf

• It means life or death

• It means productive animal or not

• It means farm economics

What is colostrum?

• immunoglobulins

• Fats

• Minerals

• Biologically active proteins

• Gut development

• Bacteria

• Disease transfer

• Inconvenient to collect and manage

First milk secreted after a dry period or first milk secreted by a heifer

Benefits from colostrum Dangers from colostrum

Colostrum Nutrient Composition

Item (%) Mean Min Max

Fat 6.70 2.0 26.5

Protein 14.92 7.1 22.6

Lactose 2.49 1.2 5.2

Total solids 27.64 18.3 43.3

Ash 0.05 0.02 0.07

Kehoe et al., 2007Survey of 55 colostrum samples from PA farms

Immunoglobulins

• Glycoprotein molecules that are produced by B-cells in response to an antigen.

Item (mg/mL) Mean Min Max

Total IgG 46.94 16.1 120.2

IgG1 34.96 11.8 74.2

IgG2 6.00 2.7 20.6

IgA 1.66 0.5 4.4

IgM 4.32 1.1 21.0

Ruminants are unique among species in that no maternal immunoglobulins can pass the placental barrier

• .

However the end result that we need toachieve is a calf with the same level of antibodies as her/his dam.

Serum IgG concentration depends on when and how much colostrum is fed (Stott et al., 1979).

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 4 8 12 16 20 24

Seru

m Ig

G (

g/L

)

Age at Feeding (h)

0.5 L

1.0 L

2.0 L

Passive immunity from Colostrum

Figure 7.2. Passively acquired immunity declines

rapidly over time.

Anti

bod

y c

on

cen

trati

on

Time1 d 14 d

Colostrum peak

DaysPassive

Acquired

Calf ImmunityScours/Death loss in 5 day intervals

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30

Antibodies from colostrum become a calf’s first defense

Subclinical

Mild

Severe

Lethal

Low HighPathogen Exposure Level

No colostrum

Colostrum

Antibodies from colostrum protect calves until their own

immune systems are fully functional.

An

tib

od

y co

nce

ntr

atio

n

Time1 d 14 d

Passive immunity

(colostrum)

High risk

periodActive immunity

(immune system)

Rate of illness and death in calves with different levels of serum IgG

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

< 10 10 to 24.9 ≥ 25

Perc

ent

Serum IgG, g/L

Morbidity

Mortality

Preliminary results from calf health section of the USDA Dairy 2014 survey; 2,392 heifer calves.

Blood IgG levels depends on:

• Timing of colostrum feeding

• Quality of colostrum fed

– IgG concentration

– Bacteria population

• Quantity of colostrum fed

Factors affecting Ig concentration in colostrum

• Colostrum bacteria concentration

0

5

10

15

20

25

Low Bacteria High Bacteria

Blo

od

IgG

(g/

L)

Goals:Total Bacteria < 100,000 cfu/mLColiforms < 500 cfu/mL

Bacteria in colostrum can come from:

• The milking system

• The cow’s udder and teact

• Milking equipment

• Calf feeding equipment

Description of treatments and blood parameters at 24 h of age in calves fed colostrum by nipple bottle,

esophageal feeder, or a combination of both

Treatment

Item 1 2 3 4 5 SEM

Number of calves 13 6 7 7 7

Amount fed, L

Nipple bottle 3.80 2.84 1.89 0.95 0.00

Esophageal feeder 0.00 0.95 1.89 2.84 3.80

IgG1, mg/mL 22.3 23.4 23.8 22.8 24.6 1.73

IgG2, mg/mL 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 0.08

Total IgG, mg/mL 23.4 24.5 25.2 24.0 25.8 1.79

Total serum protein, g/dL 6.3 6.6 6.5 6.6 6.3 0.2

AEA, %1 35.3 34.6 35.0 31.8 35.2 2.871Apparent efficiency of absorption.

Elizondo-Salazar et al., 2011

Dairy Calf Losses

75% of dairy calf losses in the first year of age occur within the first month of life! Scours

56,5%

Respiratory

22,5%

Trauma

1.7%

Neurologic

0,3%

Other Known

4.3%

Unknown

7,8%

Joint/navel

1,6%

Calving

Problems

5,3%

NAHMS, 2007

Age Distribution of Enteric Diseases in Calves

E. Coli

Chronic E. coli

Clostridium

Rota-virus

Salmonella

Corona-virus

Cryptosporidia

Coccidia

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Age (days)

Under 5 days (ETEC)

Birth to 3 months

5 to 10 days

1 to 2 weeks

2 to 6 weeks

Few days to few weeks

5 to 35 days

21 days to 2 years

Diedrickson, 1993

Methods of Transmission

PathogenFecal-

Oral

Fecal-

NavelMilk

Nasal-

Saliva

In

Utero

E. Coli X X

Clostridium X

Rota & Corona Virus X

Cryptosporidia X

Coccidia X

Johne’s Disease X X X

Salmonella X X X X X

Bovine Virus Diarrhea X X X X

Bovine Leukemia Virus X X

Mycoplasma bovis X X

Contagious mastitis X X

From Biosecurity in Calf Management

To check for transfer of antibodies- blood samples need to be taken at 24-48 hrs of age.

Measuring Total Protein Levels

Successful Passive Transfer of Immunity

Timely Separation from Dam

• Breathing• Dip Navel • Dry • Warm/Clean• Colostrum • Avoid Stress• Timely Separation from Dam• Transferred to Adequate Housing

1 HUTCH WIDTH

Three steps to colostrum IgG

absorption

• Rapid ingestion of colostrum

• Rapid digestion of colostrum

• Absorption of IgG molecules

– Also IgA, IgE etc.

Step 1

CLOTTING OF MILK

Clotting occurs 3-6 min- enzyme rennin

Whey

Curd

Lactose

Protein

Minerals

85% - 6 h of feeding

duodenum

Protein (casein)

Lipid

Step 2

Contains Ig

Example of good curd formation

Livestock Improvement Association of Japan, 2017

Ultrasound images of the abomasal curd in a calf after first ingestion of first-milking colostrum.

Miyazaki et al., 2017

Upper, lower, right, and left of cross-sectional images correspond to dorsal, ventral, right, and left of calf bodies, respectively.

Upper, lower, right, and left of longitudinal sectional images correspond to dorsal, ventral, caudal, and cranial of calf bodies, respectively.

Miyazaki et al., 2017

Upper, lower, right, and left of cross-sectional images correspond to dorsal, ventral, right, and left of calf bodies, respectively.

Upper, lower, right, and left of longitudinal sectional images correspond to dorsal, ventral, caudal, and cranial of calf bodies, respectively.

Step 3

Traditionally we said:

Blood IgG levels depends on:

• Timing of colostrum feeding

• Quantity of colostrum fed

• Quality of colostrum fed

– IgG levels

– Bacteria levels

• Both very important

Rumen

Abomasum

Reticulum

Omasum

Small intestineStomach at birth

Acetate

Propionate

Butyrate

Propionate

85% absorbed into the rumen wall

15% absorbed in the small intestine

4 weeks

capillaries

Epithelium

Connective Tissue

Submucosa

Capillary

Epithelium

Submucosa

At birth <1 mm 5 to 7 mm

Lesmeister, 2003.

Rumen Development

Rumen Development

• Accomplished by butyric and propionic acid lowering pH and increasing bacterial growth.

• Takes 21-28 days eating ~ ½ lb grain /day to grow a suitable level of rumen papillae

Milk Only Milk and Grain Milk and Hay

Rumen papillae development in 6 week

old calves fed 3 different diets

Rumen microbial protein is 50+% Crude Protein

Has a very high Biological Value

Rumen microbes produce VFAs

VFAs are very efficient glucose precursors

Adequate Bedding • Generous, dry bed of fluffy material

(cushioned resting surface)• Clean• Moisture absorption• Decrease the risks of contracting

disease• Reduce stress.

• Calves from 10 days of age to 4 weeks can average 20.6 hours per day lying down

• Overall average daily gain and dry matter intake of calves do not differ due to bedding type, given proper management of all bedding types.

1 = legs entirely visible

2 = legs partially visible while laying down

3 = legs generally not visible while laying down

Nesting Scores

• Key to managing calf health is early diagnosis and treatment

• Standardized system of evaluation

Calf Health Evaluation

https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/8calf/calf_health_scoring_chart.pdf

Calf Respiratory Disease Scoring

ScoreTemp-

eratureCough

Nasal Discharge

Eyes or Ears

037.8-38.2°C

(100-100.8°F)None

Normal serous discharge

Normal

138.3-38.8°C

(100.9-101.8°F)

Induce single coughSmall amount of unilateral, cloudy

discharge

Small amount of ocular discharge

238.9-39.4°C

(101-102.9°F)

Induced repeated cough or occasional spontaneous cough

Bilateral, cloudy or excessive mucus

discharge

Moderate amount of discharge both eyes

or slight ear drop

3≥39.5°C

(≥103.1°F)Repeated

spontaneous coughbilateral nasal

dischargeHead tilt or both ears

dropped

Ear Score 0 Ear Score 1

Ear Score 2 Ear Score 3

0 = Normal 1 = Semi-formed, pasty

3 = Loose, but stays on top of

bedding

4 = Watery, sifts through

beddingFecal Scores

Water and Electrolyte Balances

←Lungs

Water → Stomach

Intestines Feces →

Blood plasma(25% of total body

water)

Major electrolytes

(mEq/L)

Na 140K 5

Cl 105HCO3 30

Na 10K 140Cl 5HCO3 10

Intracellular fluid(75% of total body

water)

(Adapted from Gamble, 1954)

Effects on the Animal

• Metabolic effects of scours include

– Dehydration

– Increased energy requirement

– Loss of appetite

– Depression

– Electrolyte imbalance

– Recumbency

– Acidosis

– Death

When should you treat a calf

with electrolytes?

• Evaluate hydration using skin tenting– Pinch a fold of skin

and count the seconds it takes to flatten

– < 2s = normal

– 2–6s = 8% dehydration

– > 6s = severe dehydration above 10%

Clinical Signs of Dehydration

% Dehydration Symptoms

5 to 6%Few Clinical signs; diarrhea, strong suckling

reflex

6 to 8%

Sunken eyes, skin tents for 2 to 6 seconds, mild

depression, dry mouth and nose, suckling reflex

still present

8 to 10%

Depression, loss of body weight, more distinctly

sunken eyes, skin tents for > 6s, dry mucous

membranes, increased pulse, failure to rise

10 to 14%Comatose, cool ears and legs, skin does not

flatten after tent test, poor pulse, failure to rise

Over 14% Death

Oral Rehydration Elements

Optimal nutrient and ingredient content of electrolyte products.

Item Amount Why?

Sodium 70 to 120 mEq/L Water absorption

Chloride 40 to 80 mEq/L Replace lost Cl

Potassium 10 to 20 mEq/L Replace lost K

Alkalinizing agent 40 to 80 mEq/L Correct acidosis

Dextrose Na transport, energy source

Glycine Na transport

(Quigley,

2001)

Read the label!• Difficult to compare oral rehydration

solutions due to the different units

used

– %, mmol/L, mg/ml, or μEq

(Kehoe and Heinrichs,

2005)

Amount to Feed

• BW of calf × (dehydration percent/100)

– Pounds the calf needs to drink

• IN ADDITION TO ITS MILK OR MILK REPLACER

FEEDING

– Divide by 2 to get quarts of liquid needed

Timing of Electrolyte Feeding

• Several hours after feeding milk/MR in

the morning

• Optional noon feeding

• https://extension.psu.edu/table-comparison-of-commercial-electrolyte-products

• Google – calves electrolytes Penn State

General Management:

• Bedding

• Proper Ventilation

• Draft Free

• Minimize Stress

• CONSISTENCY

• Clean, Fresh Water

• Grain (Day 3)

Summary

• Colostrum is #1

• Keep calves hydrated

• Reduce stress

• Reduce pathogen exchange (?)

• Have good moving protocols

Questions?