title: Effects of two-stage weaning with nose flap devices applied to calves on cow body condition, calf performance, and calf humoral immune response.
abstract: The effects of nose flap devices in calves before dam separation on cow BCS, pre- and postseparation calf performance, and humoral immune response were compared with traditional weaning. Primiparous and multiparous Angus and Hereford cows ( = 113) and their Angus, Hereford, and Angus × Hereford calves (179.4 ± 3.92 kg and 161 ± 22.7 d of age) were used. Cow-calf pairs were allocated to 1 of 2 treatments in a completely randomized design: 1) nose flap for 21 d before separation from the dam (NF) or 2) no nose flap for 21 d before separation from the dam (CON). Calves were separated from dams on d 0, and calves were placed in group feed-yard pens for 28 d. A subset ( = 75) of weaned calves were placed into 1 of 8 pens to evaluate DMI. Cow BCS was measured on d -21 and 56, and calves were given modified live vaccinations (d -21 and 1), challenged with ovalbumin (OVA; d 1), and weighed (d -21, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28). In addition, blood samples were collected (d -21, 1, 14, and 28) to measure primary humoral immune response. Control calves tended to have greater BW on d 14 ( = 0.09) and 21 ( = 0.07) than NF calves, and CON calves had greater ( < 0.05) ADG from d -21 to 1 vs. NF calves. Treatments did not differ ( ≥ 0.27) for postweaning DMI, G:F, or morbidity. Serum neutralization tests for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV-1) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) were used to measure humoral response to a viral vaccination. Serum antibody titers to BVDV-1 for CON calves tended ( = 0.08) to be greater on d 1 and were greater ( < 0.05) by d 28 vs. NF calves. By d 28, a greater percentage ( < 0.05) of CON calves seroconverted for BVDV-1 than NF calves (82.1 vs. 66.7%, respectively). Serum antibody titers for BHV-1 were greater ( < 0.05) on d 1 and 28 for CON vs. NF calves. Humoral immune response to OVA during the 28-d postseparation period from the dam was evaluated in a subset ( = 57) of calves. There was no difference ( = 0.92) in OVA-specific IgG between treatments on d 14 or 28 ( = 0.76); however, OVA-specific IgM was greater ( < 0.05) in CON vs. NF calves on d 28. Results indicate that nose flap devices did not influence feed intake, feed efficiency, or morbidity during the initial postseparation period from the dam. However, preweaning ADG, serum BVDV-1 and BHV-1 titers, and humoral immune response to OVA were decreased in calves that received the nose flap treatment.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Callan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007241:Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009666:Nose; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D010047:Ovalbumin