Vitamin A, D and E are important in colostrum because they are fat soluble vitamins and can therefore not pass the placenta during pregnancy. Vitamin A levels in colostrum can be influenced by dry cow nutrition (e.g. by feeding B-caroteen).
Vitamin A, D and E are important in colostrum because they are fat soluble vitamins and can therefore not pass the placenta during pregnancy. Vitamin A levels in colostrum can be influenced by dry cow nutrition (e.g. by feeding B-caroteen).
Pathogens that cause disease in calves (rotavirus, Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, etc.) are usually passed to the calf through the environment. Bedding and manure that contain organisms or oocysts are a ready source of contamination. The mother can also harbor organisms that can infect the calf, through the colostrum and milk or from manure on the dam's body.
Newborn calves are at a real disadvantage when it comes to fighting disease. Not only are they highly stressed, but their immune defenses are minimal until they have sufficient colostrum. In addition, the animal has an opening into its circulation - the umbilical cord – where infection can result in rapid disease and death. It is very important to minimize the potential infection of the navel cord by disinfecting the navel.
Heat stress in calves can occur from 20-25°C or more, but signs/problems are not to the same extent as in dairy cows. Night cooling is very important to prevent heat stress. Pre ruminant calves are more robust and not so prone to heat stress, because they don’t have heat produced by the rumen yet.
The ideal BCS for heifers is 3.25. Animals with a BCS of less than three will exhaust their energy reserves in early lactation. Animals with a BCS of more than four will have a low, slowly rising DMI which will result in ketosis.
Pasteurizing should be done correctly, at 60°C for 60 minutes. If the temperature or time is exceeded then IgG’s will be broken down.
Vitamin A, D and E are important in colostrum because they are fat soluble vitamins and can therefore not pass the placenta during pregnancy. Vitamin A levels in colostrum can be influenced by dry cow nutrition (e.g. by feeding B-caroteen).
Colostrum synthesis starts three weeks before calving. From this time onwards dry cow nutrition will really impact colostrum quality. Colostrum quantity (volume) is hard to influence as the underlying mechanism is still unknown. The longer the delay to milk colostrum from the cow after birth, the lower the volume and quality of the colostrum will be.
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