Farm Animal Neonatal Diseases

Question 1

What proportion of calves die before weaning?

Answer 1

8.8%

Question 2

Which maternal-derived antibodies provide systemic protection in the calf?

Answer 2

IgG

IgM

Question 3

Which maternal-derived antibodies provide local protection in the intestine of the calf?

Answer 3

IgG resecreted into the gut lumen

IgA in colostrum passes through gut lumen

Question 4

What is the ideal plasma level of IgG in the calf?

Answer 4

5g/L plasma is protective

10g/L is aim

Question 5

How does colostrum of beef cows compare to that of dairy cows?

Answer 5

Better concentrated

Lower volume

Question 6

What percentage of a calfs body weight is blood?

Answer 6

8%

Question 7

If colostrum has 50g/l, a calf drinks 2L and the efficiency of absorption is 30%, what is the calf’s plasma Ig concentration if it has 3L of blood?

Answer 7

50 x 2 = 100
100 x 0.3 = 30
30/3 = 10

10g/L

Question 8

What are the major factors influencing colostrum availability?

Answer 8

Milking number
Milk yield
Dairy/beef
Pre-calving milking or leakage
Short dry period
Premature calving
Heifer/cows

Question 9

Why does a short dry period reduce colostrum availability?

Answer 9

Poor body condition score leads to insufficient immunoglobulins absorption

Question 10

How does the colostrum of heifers differ from that of cows?

Answer 10

Less rich

Greater volume

Question 11

How might mastitis affect colostrum?

Answer 11

May not let calf suckle

Immunoglobulins may be denatured

Question 12

Why might double muscled calves receive insufficient colostrum?

Answer 12

Double muscled tongue makes it hard to suckle

Question 13

What does the colour of colostrum indicate?

Answer 13

Quality

Question 14

What colour is high quality colostrum?

Answer 14

Dark yellow

Question 15

What does orange colostrum indicate?

Answer 15

Blood contamination

Question 16

Outline the major calf factors that prevent adequate colostrum ingestion…

Answer 16

Weakness
Acidosis
Dystocia
Mouth problems

Question 17

Outline the major udder factors that prevent adequate colostrum ingestion…

Answer 17

Sore teats
Teat shape
Teat alignment
Dropped udder

Question 18

Outline the major maternal factors that prevent adequate colostrum ingestion…

Answer 18

Poor mothering
Disturbances/stress
Overcrowding
Caesarean section
Milk fever
Slippery floors

Question 19

Outline available methods to ensure a calf has adequate colostrum intake…

Answer 19

Assisted suckling
Bottle and teat
Oesophageal feeder

Question 20

For how long must a calf suckle to ingest 2L of colostrum?

Answer 20

20-30 minutes

Question 21

Outline how colostrum absorption efficiency changes in the hours following calving…

Answer 21

6 hours: 66%
12 hours: 46%
24 hours: 12%
36 hours: 7%

Question 22

How do herbivores receive maternally-derived antibodies?

Answer 22

Colostrum only

Question 23

How can you improve the quality of colostrum?

Answer 23

Vaccination of dam (e.g. rotavirus)
Store colostrum and allow it to ferment
- Feed stored colostrum over several days for effective mucosal protection

Question 24

How is colostrum quality assessed?

Answer 24

Measure IgG
Specific gravity
Refractometer

Question 25

How is colostrum uptake assessed in farm animals?

Answer 25

Measure calf serum levels of:

• IgG
• Gamma glutamyl transferase
• Total protein
• Zinc sulfate
• Sodium sulfite

Question 26

What is an adequate calf serum level of IgG?

Answer 26

> 10g/L

Question 27

What is an adequate calf serum level of gamma glutamyl transferase?

Answer 27

Day 1: 200IU/L

Day 4: 100IU/L

Question 28

What is an adequate calf serum total protein level?

Answer 28

> 55g/L

Question 29

What is an adequate serum level of zinc sulfate in calfs?

Answer 29

> 20g/L

Question 30

What is an adequate calf serum level of sodium sulfite?

Answer 30

> 18g/L

Question 31

What are the three q’s of colostrum?

Answer 31

Quality
Quantity
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