Dairy Cattle Nutrition: Colostrum and Its Importance

Question 1

How much colostrum does a dairy calf need?

Answer 1

1 gallon within 12 hours

(2 quarts within the first hour of birth and 2 quarts by 12 hours later)

Question 2

What type of placenta do cows, pigs, and horses have?

Answer 2

Epitheliochorial

(does not allow an adequate transfer of immunoglobulins

Question 3

Which animal would have the colostrum with a higher variety of immunoglobulins?

A) Cow at first lactation

B) Cow at second lactation

C) Cow at third lactation

Answer 3

C) Cow at third lactation

Question 4

What is the first source of nutrition in neonate ruminants?

Answer 4

Colostrum

Question 5

What is the source of colostrum?

What about for orphan calf?

Answer 5

Dairy cows

If orphan calf -> use colostrum from other (dairy) cows

Question 6

4 qualities of colostrum

Answer 6

1) Plays a fundamental biological function
2) Promotes immunoglobulin transfer from the dam to the newborn
3) Protection against infections in the newborn
4) Essential for the Survival of the young ruminant

Question 7

What is colostrum composition regulated by during colostrogenesis?

Answer 7

By hormones

(estradiol and progresterone)

Question 8

7 factors that affect colostrogenesis

Answer 8

1) Species
2) Breed
3) Age
4) Nutrition status
5) Litter size
6) Length of dry period
7) Health status

Question 9

Colostrum is a mixture of what 4 components?

Answer 9

1) Fat
2) Lactose
3) Vitamins
4) Minerals

Question 10

4 clinical sign of failure of passive transfer (FPT)

Answer 10

1) Discharges (eye, nose)
2) Polyarthritis (joints, stance)
3) Depressed
4) Scours

Question 11

Colostrum is milk

True or False?

Answer 11

False

Question 12

Colostrum plays an essential role in what type of immunity?

Answer 12

Passive Immune Transfer