Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des Kolostrum-Drenchens bei neugeborenen Kälbern auf Immunstatus und Gesundheit

The IgG status, the weight gain and the disease incidence in 262
newborn calves from 15 typical dairies in the “Unterallgäu” in
Bavaria were investigated in a field trial by comparing two
different methods of colostrum feeding. 125 calves were fed with
3.0 l of first colostrum by tube feeder (experimental group) and
137 calves were fed 2.1 l of colostrum by bucket (control group).
Calves fed by tube feeder received their first colostrum 1.7 hours
after birth, significantly earlier then those fed by bucket (3.0
hours after birth). There was no significant difference in the mean
serum IgG concentration between tube fed calves (19.04 g/l) and
control calves (17.16 g/l). The timing of first colostrum ingestion
after birth and the volume of colostrum fed at the first feeding
correlated positively, but rather weakly with the serum IgG
concentration. A significant difference can be found between force
fed calves and bucket fed calves with regard to the risk of failure
of passive transfer. 32.1 % of the control calves had fpt but only
19.4 % of the tube fed calves. During the first two weeks of life
the average daily gain was 0.39 kg and no significant difference
can be found between the experimental group and the control group.
Fpt was associated with a reduction in average daily gain of 0.15
kg and diarrhea, umbilical infection and respiratory diseases
decreased body weight gain daily by 0.23 kg, 0.19 kg and 0.15 kg,
respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between
serum IgG concentration and the average daily gain. A score system
was developed for the evaluation of the clinical findings in the
following parameters: general health status, sucking behaviour,
skin turgor, position of the eyeballs, body temperature, findings
concerning the umbilical region, the digestive and respiratory
tract. At the first clinical examination, tube fed calves achieved
an average of 19.3 points of a maximum of 20 points and bucket fed
calves an average of 19.2 points. At the final clinical examination
tube fed calves achieved 19.3 points and bucket fed calves 18.9
points. Apart from the results of the final clinical examination,
no significant differences in total points between the experimental
group and the control group were found. Control calves reached
significant lower points only at “skin turgor” and “position of the
eyeballs” on day 2 after birth and significant lower points at
“digestive tract” at the final clinical examination. Diarrhea was
the most frequently diagnose. About 32.4 % of all calves showed
signs of diarrhea, 18.3 % of the calves developed a reluctance to
drink, 15.3 % had an umbilical infection and 14.1 % showed signs of
a respiratory disease but there were no significant differences in
disease incidence between the experimental group and the control
group. The average treatment costs per calf were 7.87 Euro. The
results showed no significant differences between force fed calves
and bucket fed calves with respect to frequency and type of
veterinary intervention. Only the serum IgG concentration and the
total points at the first clinical examination as well as the serum
IgG concentration and the points at “umbilical region” at the final
clinical examination showed a significant positive correlation. The
results showed no close relation between a low immunoglobulin
concentration and a higher susceptibility to disease. It is true
that calves suffering from fpt reached lower total points at the
first clinical examination and lower points at “umbilical region”
as well as a higher umbilical infection incidence, but in most
cases there were no statistically differences between calves with
fpt and calves with an adequate serum IgG concentration in disease
incidence or in health status. Conclusion: Routine drenching of
neonatal calves with colostrum offers no relevant advantage over
early bucket-feeding of an adequate volume of colostrum.