title: Feeding heat-treated colostrum to neonatal dairy heifers: effects on growth characteristics and blood parameters.
abstract: Newborn Holstein heifer calves were studied to compare absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG(1) and IgG(2)), total serum protein concentration, lymphocyte counts, health scores, growth, and starter intake after receiving unheated or heat-treated colostrum. First-milking colostrum was collected from Holstein cows and frozen at -20 degrees C to accumulate a large batch. After thawing and mixing, half of the colostrum was transferred into 1.89-L plastic containers and frozen at -20 degrees C until needed for feeding. The remaining half was heated at 60 degrees C for 30 min, transferred into 1.89-L plastic containers, and then frozen at -20 degrees C until needed for feeding. Forty heifer calves weighing > or =32 kg at birth were enrolled into 1 of 2 treatment groups before suckling occurred. For the first feeding, 3.8 L of colostrum was bottle fed by 1.5 to 2 h of age. For the second and third feedings, pasteurized whole milk at 5% of birth body weight (BW) was fed. Subsequently, calves received milk replacer containing 20% crude protein and 20% fat at 10% of birth BW/d until wk 5. Milk replacer was reduced to 1 feeding of 5% birth BW until weaning at 6 wk of age. Blood samples and growth data were collected through wk 8. Batch heat-treatment of colostrum at 60 degrees C for 30 min lowered colostrum bacteria concentration while maintaining colostral IgG concentration and viscosity. Calves fed heat-treated colostrum had significantly greater IgG concentrations at 24 h and greater apparent efficiency of IgG absorption (IgG = 23.4 g/L; apparent efficiency of absorption = 33.2%) compared with calves fed unheated colostrum (IgG = 19.6 g/L; apparent efficiency of absorption = 27.7%). There was no difference between treatment groups in growth measurements, calf starter intake, lymphocyte counts, or health scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elizondo-Salazar
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G