title: Addition of sodium bicarbonate to either 1 or 2 feedings of colostrum replacer: effect on uptake and rate of absorption of immunoglobulin G in neonatal calves.
abstract: Forty Holstein dairy calves were blocked by birth date and sex, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments within each block to elucidate the effect of feeding regimen and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) supplementation on absorption of IgG from colostrum replacer (CR). Calves received CR containing 191.4 g of IgG fed either in 1 feeding at 0 h (within 45 min of birth), with or without 30 g of NaHCO₃, or in 2 feedings (127.6 g of IgG at 0 h, with or without 20 g of NaHCO₃, and 63.8 g of IgG at 6 h, with or without 10 g of NaHCO₃). The treatments were (1) 1 feeding of CR+0 g of NaHCO₃; (2) 1 feeding of CR+30 g of NaHCO₃; (3) 2 feedings of CR+0 g of NaHCO₃; and (4) 2 feedings of CR+30 g total of NaHCO₃. Only calves born with no dystocia were used on this study. Blood samples were taken at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24h postpartum and were analyzed for IgG using a radial immunoassay. Results indicated that, individually, feeding regimen and NaHCO₃ treatments had no effect. However, the interaction was significant for 24-h IgG and area under the curve, and showed a trend for apparent efficiency of absorption. Absorption rate data indicated that, for calves fed within 45 min of birth, most IgG absorption occurred in the first 6 h after birth. From 6 to 12 h postpartum, IgG absorption started to decrease; however, IgG absorption remained higher for calves fed in a single feeding than in 2 feedings. These data indicated that NaHCO₃ may increase IgG absorption when calves are fed colostrum in a single feeding but is not beneficial when colostrum is fed in 2 feedings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate