title: Supplementing fresh bovine colostrum with gut-active carbohydrates reduces passive transfer of immunoglobulin G in Holstein dairy calves.
abstract: High concentrations of coliform bacteria in maternal colostrum (MC) have been associated with reduced IgG absorption in calves. Mannan-oligosaccharide, a gut-active carbohydrate (GAC) derived from yeast cell wall, has been shown to adsorb pathogens expressing type-1-fimbriae, reducing their ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to investigate if addition of a GAC to colostrum would result in increased IgG absorption in newborn calves. Newborn Holstein heifer and bull calves were enrolled in summer 2012 at a commercial transition cow facility in western Wisconsin. Each day, 7.6-L pools of fresh, first milking MC were created, split into 3.8-L aliquots, and refrigerated until feeding. Eligible newborn calves were removed from the dam 30 to 60min after birth, weighed, and randomly assigned to be fed either 3.8 L of the MC pool (control) or 3.8 L of the MC pool with 30 g of GAC mixed in immediately before feeding. Duplicate 10-mL samples of colostrum were collected and frozen at -20°C before feeding (and before addition of GAC) for bacterial culture and IgG determination. A 10-mL venous blood sample was collected from calves before feeding colostrum and 24 h after colostrum feeding, for laboratory determination of serum IgG using radial immunodiffusion analysis. Colostrum and calf characteristics, including colostrum IgG concentration (g/L), colostrum bacteria counts (log10, cfu/mL), calf dystocia scores (1 to 4), birth weights (kg), and age at first feeding (min) were not different between the group fed GAC (n=47) and the control group (n=48). Mixed linear regression analysis showed that calves fed colostrum supplemented with 30 g of GAC had lower mean (standard error) apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG and lower serum IgG concentrations at 24 h [23.9% (1.0); IgG=24.0 (1.1) g/L] than did control calves [30.4% (1.0); IgG=30.8 (1.0) g/L]. Given the negative effect observed in this study, it is not recommended that fresh colostrum be supplemented with 30 g of GAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108. Electronic address: brady225@umn.edu.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Godden
authors.affiliation: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 5B4, Canada; The Saskatoon Colostrum Co. Ltd., Saskatoon S7K 6A2, Canada.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D018401:Sample Size; D014922:Wisconsin
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: calves; colostrum; gut-active carbohydrate; immunoglobulin; passive transfer