Continued colostrum feeding improved weight gain
Washington State researchers investigated the effects of feeding colostrum powder in milk replacer on the performance of 273 calves on three commercial calf ranches. Results of the study were published in the January Journal of Dairy Science.
Calves received one of three treatments: colostrum supplement, placebo supplement or no supplement. The colostrum supplement provided 10 grams of IgG from 70 grams of colostrum powder. The placebo contained similar nutrients but no immunoglobulin. Supplements were fed twice daily for 14 days.
Calves were mostly bulls raised for beef; although one ranch managed both bulls and replacement heifers. On arrival, 62 percent of calves had serum IgG levels below 10 grams per liter (which equates to failure of passive transfer).
Supplementation of milk replacer did not affect death loss during the first 28 days. However, calves with serum protein less than 3.5 grams per liter were 26 times more likely to die than calves with adequate passive transfer.
Calves fed colostrum supplement had fewer days scouring, fewer days treated and improved average daily gain at 28 days compared to calves fed no supplement. Both placebo- and colostrum-supplemented calves had increased grain intake compared to non-supplemented calves. Although the colostrum supplement was effective, the authors stressed that the most important factor affecting calf performance was passive transfer status. Improved weight gain in colostrum-supplemented calves was attributed to greater energy intake, better grain intake and fewer days with diarrhea.
