Colostrum feeding routines - Passive immunity and welfare in dairy calves. Carlos E. Hernandez, MVZ, MSc, PhD

Transcription

1 Colostrum feeding routines - Passive immunity and welfare in dairy calves Carlos E. Hernandez, MVZ, MSc, PhD

2 Outline Background Current projects at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management at SLU 1) Effects of colostrum feeding routines (Oesophageal Tube (OT), suckling or bottle) on: A. Calf performance and welfare in dairy calves Project Leader: Kerstin Svennersten Sjaunja and Carlos E. Hernandez B. The establishment of the digestive and respiratory tract microbiota in dairy calves Project Leader: Bengt-Ove Rustas 2) Comparison of the use of refractometer (%Brix) and colostrometer as estimators of IgG content in milk. PhD student: Lisa Andree O Hara, Supervisor: Kjell Holtenius 3) Improved calf performance in small-scale dairy production in Southern Vietnam. PhD student: Bui Phan Thu Hang, Supervisors: Kerstin Svennersten, Ewa Wredle, Johan Dicksved and Duong Nguyen Khang

3 Background Colostrum feeding routines- passive transfer of immunity and welfare in dairy calves

4 Background Calves are born with insufficient immunity to fight disease Calf survival depends on the transfer of passive immunity of maternal immunoglobulins via the colostrum Factors affecting the transfer of passive immunity include: 1) The timing of first colostrum feeding 2) The quality of the colostrum (i.e. amount of immunoglobulins and bacterial contamination) 3) The volume of colostrum consumed Photo: SLU bildbank

5 Background Level of control Colostrum feeding method Timing Quality Volume 1) Bottle or bucket feeding 2) Suckling the dam 3) Oesophageal Tube feeder

6 Background Oesophageal Tube (OT) feeder Pros: Allows greater control of quality, quantity and timing of colostrum feeding Higher levels of serum IgG than bottle or suckled calves Saves time - faster than bottle feeding Cons: Invasive procedure that requires trained personnel Does not stimulate oesophageal groove reflex Risk of injury Unnecessary discomfort and stress to the calves? Possible to feed large volumes in a short period of time exceeding abomasal capacity and voluntary intake Does not satisfy the calf s natural need for suckling

7 Background Bottle or bucket feeding Pros: Allows good control of quality and timing of colostrum feeding Higher levels of serum IgGs than suckled calves Allows the calf to express and fulfil its high motivation for suckling Allows the calf to control the volume of colostrum ingested Cons: There is limited control over the volume consumed by the calf Time consuming, especially in calves with low motivation to feed Reduced levels of serum IgG compared to OT

8 Background Suckling the dam Pros: Allows the calf to express the full range of neonatal behaviours and allows contact between mother and young (Suckling and grooming) Allows the calf to control the volume and frequency of colostrum ingested Improved rate of immunoglobulin absorption Reduction in labour costs for feeding calves Cons: There is no control over the timing and volume consumed by the calf Difficult to achieve consistent and adequate passive transfer of immunity

9 Background To date, most studies have focused on the effects of OT feeding on transfer of passive immunity, health outcomes and mortality rates There are currently no studies evaluating the consequences of OT colostrum feeding on the behaviour and welfare of dairy calves

10 Photo: SLU bildbank Current projects at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management Colostrum feeding routines and management in dairy calves

11 1) PROJECT TITLE: EFFECTS OF COLOSTRUM FEEDING ROUTINES ON PERFORMANCE AND WELFARE IN DAIRY CALVES Research group: Carlos E. Hernandez, Bengt-Ove Rustas, Lena Lidfors, Lotta Berg, Helena Röcklinsberg, Stefan Alenius, Kerstin Svennersten Sjaunja

12 Aim To investigate the effects of oesophageal tube vs suckling vs bottle feeding on the transfer of passive immunity, growth, health, physiological, endocrine and behavioural response to the treatments and sleep patterns in dairy calves. Another aim is to study the development of gut microbiota, over the first 14 days of calf life, in relation to the feeding treatments

13 Specific objectives A) To investigate the effects of oesophageal tube vs suckling vs bottle colostrum feeding of new born dairy calves on: 1) The transfer of passive immunity, growth and health (birth to weaning) 2) The sleep patterns (birth to 5 days old) 3) Physiological and endocrine response to the three feeding methods (MSc student: Caroline Laestander) 4) The behavioural response to the treatments (MSc student: Ida Lundmark) B) The public s perception of oesophageal tube feeding as a routine management for colostrum feeding in dairy calves (MSc student: Anna Johansson)

14 2) PROJECT TITLE: EFFECTS OF COLOSTRUM FEEDING ROUTINES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUT MICROBIOTA IN DAIRY CALVES Research group: Bengt-Ove Rustas, Johan Dicksved, Carlos E. Hernandez, Kerstin Svennersten Sjaunja

15 Aim To investigate the effects of oesophageal tube vs suckling vs bottle feeding on the development of gut microbiota, over the first 14 days of calf life

16 3) PROJECT TITLE: Photo: Lisa Andree O Hara COMPARISON OF THE USE OF REFRACTOMETER (%BRIX) AND COLOSTROMETER AS ESTIMATORS OF IG CONTENT IN MILK Doctoral student: Lisa Andree O Hara Supervisors: Kjell Holtenius

17 Objective To evaluate the potential of the colostrometer and Brix method to predict plasma IgG and to investigate (management) factors that increases the risk of being a failed-transfer-of-passive-immunity calf Photo: Lisa Andree O Hara

18 4) PROJECT TITLE: Photo: Bui Phan Thu Hang IMPROVED CALF PERFORMANCE IN SMALL- SCALE DAIRY PRODUCTION IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM Doctoral student: Bui Phan Thu Hang Supervisors: Ewa Wredle Kerstin Svennersten Sjaunja Johan Dicksved Duong Nguyen Khang

19 Background Dairy production in Vietnam is rather new (50 years) Demand for dairy products in Vietnam is increasing Dairy cattle population has increased from 11,000 in 1990 to approx.167,000 heads of cattle in 2012 Photo: Bui Phan Thu Hang Local production contributes approx. 20% of national milk consumption.

20 Objective To identify calf management routines in small-holder commercial dairy farms that can be improved to reach a sustainable dairy production, considering both female and male calves Photo: Bui Phan Thu Hang

21 Thank you! Any questions? Photo: Mårten Svensson, SLU bildbank