1. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center

2. Percent calves born dead, died, or were lost during 1996 NAHMS Beef ’97 Study 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 Born dead 24 hrs or less 24 hrs – 3 wks 3 wks – weaning 2.1 1.1 1.2

3. Age Immunity Passive Antibodies from colostrum Age Immunity Passive Antibodies from colostrum Acquired Active immune response Age Immunity PassiveAcquired Window of vulnerability

4. Failure of Passive Transfer 1600 mg/dl – 3.2 – 9.5 times more likely to become sick – 5.4 times more likely to die Wittum and Perino, 1995 2400 mg/dl – 1.6 times more likely to become sick – 2.7 times more likely to die Dewell, et. al., 2006

5. Colostrum management “First milk”:

6. Colostrum management “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Fat – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein Give adequate volume ASAP

7. Colostrum management

8. “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Fat – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein Give adequate volume ASAP Feed immediately

9. Calculation: 100 lbs calf = 45.5 kg calf ~ 7% of body wt is blood => 3.2 liters = 32.0 dl ~ 70% of blood is serum => 22.4 dl ~6.7 gm of protein/dl of blood => 150 gm protein (minimum) ~ 0.55 gm IgG/gm of protein => 82 gm IgG Rule of Thumb: Feed 1 gram IgG per pound of body weight

10. Colostrum management “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Fat – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein Give adequate volume ASAP Feed immediately 1 gram/lb body wt

11. Colostrum management “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Fat – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein Give adequate volume ASAP Feed immediately 1 gram/lb body wt Sources

12. Colostrum management “First milk”: – Immunoglobulin (antibodies) – Fat – Vitamin A & E – Carbohydrates and protein Give adequate volume ASAP Feed immediately 1 gram/lb body wt Sources – Dam – Cow herdmate – fresh or frozen – Dairy colostrum? – Powdered colostrum?