dietary approaches to keeping calves healthy - calf notes.com

Dietary approachesto keeping calveshealthy

J. D. Quigley, IIIDiamond V MillsCedar Rapids, IA

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Keeping young calves healthyKeeping young calves healthyA high % of preweaning death loss can be related to improper colostrum management

Health is a balance between exposure and resistanceNewborns have little resistanceMaternal colostrum is the best source of resistance (antibodies) available to the calfIt’s the best thing you can do for your calves

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Problems with colostrumProblems with colostrum

Biosecurity concerns with colostrum (Johne’s)Variation in colostrum quality (low IgG)Difficult to predict IgGTiming and mass of administrationMany calves are moved from the home dairy within hours of birth

40 to 60% of calves on many farms have FPT at 24-48 h of age


Colostrum supplementsColostrum supplements

Supplements (<100 g of IgG) Designed to improve the qualityof colostrum or provide specific IgGFirst generation of products available


Serum IgG in calves fed CSSerum IgG in calves fed CS

Most early worked showed poor AEACalves fed only CS still have FPTCS based on serum had better AEA, but still insufficient mass of IgGMany producers used as replacers

MC = 0.06x + 7.88R2 = 0.52

MC+CS = 0.06x + 1.91R2 = 0.48

0

10

20

30

40

0 100 200 300 400 500IgG intake (g)

Seru

m Ig

G (g

/L)

CS provided 25 g of IgG

Hopkins and Quigley, 1997


CS from lacteal secretionsCS from lacteal secretions

Poor AEA may be due to• low total IgG• high non-IgG protein• lack of trypsin inhibitors

Approximately 10% of protein in CS is IgG; remaining is albumin, whey protein, casein, lactalbumin, others

9.3 9.2

6.96.5

4

6

8

10

Plas

ma

IgG

(g/L

)

Control CAS BSA BSA+CAS

Besser et al., 1993


“True” colostrum replacers“True” colostrum replacersColostrum replacers• 100+ g IgG per dose• Replace components of

colostrum - protein, fat, vitamins and minerals

• Based on colostrum or fractionated plasma

Goal is to achieve plasma IgG of 10 g/L at 24 hours of ageNewer generation of products with greater research backing

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31 33

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

IgG, g/L AEA, %

MCCR

AEA = plasma IgG (g/L) x plasma volume (L) / IgG intake (g)

Chelak et al., 1993


Colostrum replacersColostrum replacers

40 122 10.7 31 Quigley et al. 200112 244 13.6 20 Quigley et al. 200116 187 13.3 30 Quigley et al. 200211 253 13.9 -- Quigley et al. 200239 215 13.8 20 Jones et al.** 200415 150 11.7 33 Hammer et al. 2004133 182 12.6 27

IgG Plasma IgG Publicationn intake (g) (g/L @ 24 h) AEA* Author Date

*Apparent efficiency of IgG absorption = IgG in plasma (g/L) x 9% of BW / IgG intake (g)

**Included Jersey calves


Colostrum replacersColostrum replacers

Reduced % of calves with FPT compared to MCMortality of calves fed CR = 6 of 147 (4.1%) {3 studies}Reduced ADG to 28 d of ageWhat effect of non-Ig components of MC?

20.517.9

6.7

2.50

10

20

30

% o

f cal

ves

with

FPT

Mowrey etal., 2004

Poulsen etal.,2003

MCCR

n = 78 n = 239


Improving health post closureImproving health post closure

Reduce dietary stress: • Feed management• Balanced nutrition• Sufficient energy and

protein• No antigens

Stress redirects nutrients toward immune response away from ADG


SED

M cell

Mesentericlymph node

FollicleTDAPeyer’s

patchLymphaticdrainage

Laminapropria

Intestinallumen

Crypt

Epithelium

IntraepitheliallymphocyteVillus

Afferentlymphatic

Organized tissues - induction sites

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Intestinal immunityIntestinal immunity


Feed additivesFeed additivesWhether you’re filling a bottle for 7 or 7,000 - proper use of feed additives is essential to their effectiveness!

Probiotic bacteriaOligosaccharidesAntimicrobial compounds• Lactoferrin• IgG• MCT• Essential oils• Allicin

AcidificationImmune stimulation• β-glucans

Responses are generally greatest in cases of immunosuppression –especially when calves are stressed


Probiotic bacteriaProbiotic bacteria

Goal: inhibit growth of pathogens by “competitive exclusion”Some data are positive others show no benefitViability is criticalLactobacillus, Bifidobacterium appear most effective – new data with E. coli

20

30

40

50

BW gain, kg G:F, g/100 g

ConPB #1PB#2

P < 0.05 P < 0.05

Abe et al., 1995


OligosaccharidesOligosaccharides

100

142158

10089 87

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

% o

f con

trol

ADG d Scouring

ControlABOS

Adapted from: Quigley et al., J. Dairy Sci. 80:1751-1754.

Cell surface

Bacterium

Carbohydrates not digested or absorbed in the SI (FOS, MOS)In the LI, can be fermented to acidMay influence intestinal flora, increase VFA & energy balanceMay reduce binding of pathogens


Antimicrobial peptide - lactoferrinAntimicrobial peptide - lactoferrin

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Week of study

Star

ter D

MI,

kg/d

0 g/d1 g/d10 g/d

N = 7/trmt; no difference in fecal score

Lactoferrin binds Fe which is required by many bacteriaCleavage of lactoferrin can produce lactoferricin which is directly antibacterialLimited data in calvesNot commercially available yet Adapted from Joslin et al., 2002.


Antimicrobial peptide - IgGAntimicrobial peptide - IgG

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

C-R- C-R+ LC+R+ HC+R+

d Scouring

Fecal wtindex

1 5 0 0Number of calves died

Fowler et al., 1994, J. Dairy Sci., 78(Suppl. 1):235. (Abstr.)

Sources of IgG:• Colostrum & milk• Blood• Eggs

Binds to pathogens, may inhibit binding or may activate intestinal immunityAntigen specific or broad specificity



0

20

40

60

80

100

Con Egg+ Egg++ MC+ MC++

Died %Fecal score

Ikemori et al., 1997

Eggs & MC from animals vaccinated with coronavirus vaccine at 2 levels; calves challenged with coronavirus on d 0

IgY is reasonably resistant to intestinal degradationTargeted protection

Yikes!

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0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

oocy

sts/

HPF

SOY C- BSC C- SOY C+ BSC C+

*

Calves fed CMR containing soy or bovine serum, challenged with C. parvum

Blood can be fractionated to collect IgG in various concentrationsRelatively inexpensiveGenerally polyclonal but can produce specific IgG in animals are vaccinated

E. Hunt, 2002. Pediatric Research 51:370-376


Other antimicrobial compoundsOther antimicrobial compounds

Allicin (garlic) - inhibits growth of bacteria by binding to alcohol dehydrogenase• in calves challenged with

Cryptosporidium, researchers saw no effect of allicin

Essential oils - may reduce growth of bacteria & viruses – preliminary data in calves

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

AD

G (l

b/d)

Hill et al. Greatheadet al.

ControlEssen. Oil

Calves fed blends of EO in milk replacer for 42 or 56 d


AcidificationAcidificationVariation in abomasal pH in response to feeding CMR by bottle or tube 2x/d

Feeding CMR causeschanges in abomasal pHHigh pH can allow growth of pathogensAdding organic acids may reduce gut pH, reduce growth of pathogensResults equivocal

Acidified CMR may be limit fed or offered for ad libitum consumption. Acidified CMR has longer reconstituted shelf life.


Medium chain triglyceridesMedium chain triglycerides

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

d of

she

ddin

g1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Calf #

Administration of 40-60 ml/d in milk-fed calves; 50-300 ml/d in older (3-6 mo) calvesA blend of MCT (C8,

C10, C12) fed orally to calves eliminated fecal coccidial oocyst sheddingTreatment was 3 to 11 d depending on amount of sheddingMCT are toxic to certain protozoa Sato et al., 2004


β-glucan in calvesβ-glucan in calves

Purdue university has fed calves BG in challenge study:• Improved immune cells• Reduced clinical signs • Reduced death loss• Depends on the form of

BGBG stimulates white blood cells

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36

805

10152025303540

Dea

th lo

ss %

CON BG-1 BG-2

Cary et al., 2004

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*

*

*P < 0.10


Which is right for you?Which is right for you?

Base your decision on:• Do you understand the

MOA?• Can you solve problems

with sanitation?• Some products are

specific for pathogens • Projected ROI – reduced

morbidity / mortality vs. cost of application of product

Sanitation and a dedicated labor force is almost ALWAYS cheaper than investing in a “band-aid” solution to a pathogen problem.


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dietary approaches to keeping calves healthy - calf notes.com

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