Here's an article from CattleNetwork:
Passive Immunity Post-Calving & Long-Term Health & Performance Of Calves
Research conducted in the 1990’s at the USDA experiment station at Clay Center, Nebraska monitored health events and growth performance in a population of beef calves. In particular, they studied associations of lifetime health and growth performance with passive immune status. Blood samples were collected at 24 hours after birth from 263 crossbreed calves to determine the amount of passive maternal immunity that had been obtained from colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the cow after calving. Colostrum is the sole source of disease protecting antibodies available to the newborn until the immune system begins to function fully. Growth performance and health events in this set of 263 calves were monitored from birth to weaning, and after weaning throughout the feedlot/finishing period. The lowest levels of passive immunity were observed among calves that were sick or died prior to weaning. Calves with inadequate passive immunity (at one day of age) had a 5.4 times greater risk of death prior to weaning, 6.4 times greater risk of being sick during the first 28 days of life, and 3.2 times greater risk of being sick any time prior to weaning when compared to calves with adequate passive transfer. The risk of being sick in the feedlot was also three times greater for “inadequate” compared to “adequate” calves. Passive immune status was also associated with growth rates through its effects on calf health. Sickness during the first 28 days of life was associated with a 35 pound lower weaning weight. Respiratory disease in the feedlot resulted in a .09 pound lower average daily gain.
Thus, passive immunity obtained from colostrum (within the first day of life) was an important factor determining the health of calves both pre- and post-weaning, and indirectly influenced calf growth rate during the same periods. Management of young cows that allows for optimum production of first milk is vitally important to calf health and performance. Young cows that are in excellent body condition and have been properly immunized are most likely to produce the amount and quality of colostrum that gives their offspring an opportunity to get “adequate” passive immunity.
Source: Dr. Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
Again, I stess how important getting that heifer in good body condition score PRIOR to breeding and keep her there so that she has good colostrom & enough reserves to re-cycle after calving. Also, this article doesn't point it out, but the sooner the calf sucks the better immunities it gets.
Passive Immunity Post-Calving & Long-Term Health & Performance Of Calves
Research conducted in the 1990’s at the USDA experiment station at Clay Center, Nebraska monitored health events and growth performance in a population of beef calves. In particular, they studied associations of lifetime health and growth performance with passive immune status. Blood samples were collected at 24 hours after birth from 263 crossbreed calves to determine the amount of passive maternal immunity that had been obtained from colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the cow after calving. Colostrum is the sole source of disease protecting antibodies available to the newborn until the immune system begins to function fully. Growth performance and health events in this set of 263 calves were monitored from birth to weaning, and after weaning throughout the feedlot/finishing period. The lowest levels of passive immunity were observed among calves that were sick or died prior to weaning. Calves with inadequate passive immunity (at one day of age) had a 5.4 times greater risk of death prior to weaning, 6.4 times greater risk of being sick during the first 28 days of life, and 3.2 times greater risk of being sick any time prior to weaning when compared to calves with adequate passive transfer. The risk of being sick in the feedlot was also three times greater for “inadequate” compared to “adequate” calves. Passive immune status was also associated with growth rates through its effects on calf health. Sickness during the first 28 days of life was associated with a 35 pound lower weaning weight. Respiratory disease in the feedlot resulted in a .09 pound lower average daily gain.
Thus, passive immunity obtained from colostrum (within the first day of life) was an important factor determining the health of calves both pre- and post-weaning, and indirectly influenced calf growth rate during the same periods. Management of young cows that allows for optimum production of first milk is vitally important to calf health and performance. Young cows that are in excellent body condition and have been properly immunized are most likely to produce the amount and quality of colostrum that gives their offspring an opportunity to get “adequate” passive immunity.
Source: Dr. Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
Again, I stess how important getting that heifer in good body condition score PRIOR to breeding and keep her there so that she has good colostrom & enough reserves to re-cycle after calving. Also, this article doesn't point it out, but the sooner the calf sucks the better immunities it gets.
