Can We Improve Colostrum Through Dam Nutrition?
Is there a way to remodel the colostrum factory to boost the quality of this magical elixir, and/or produce more of it? Two recent articles in the Journal of Dairy Science explored the connections between dam nutrition and colostrum outcomes.
The first, published in the May 2023 issue of the journal, was a review by Irish researchers of previous studies related to maternal nutrition and colostrum production and quality. Their analysis showed a mixed bag of results.
Some studies proved a positive correlation between various dam nutrition factors like body condition score (BCS) changes and dietary crude protein (CP) on colostrogenesis and/or IgG content. However, other studies showed no or opposite effects of the same factors.
Two promising outcomes that did surface in their review were:
- Feeding ruminally protected amino acids to close-up cows showed that protected lysine and methionine diets increased colostrum total protein content (Brix units), calf serum total protein and IgG (0-7 days), and preweaning average daily gain (ADG).
- Feeding mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) to close-up cows increased colostrum yield (but not quality or calf outcomes) in one study. In another, it improved calf colostrum-derived rotavirus antibody titers in response to maternal vaccination.
In terms of ration composition and BCS impacts on colostrum, the Irish researchers noted that the “Golidilocks principle” applied, in the sense that the best colostrum outcomes resulted from rations that were “just right.” “In general, the ability to significantly alter colostrum yield or quality by dietary means is limited once the metabolizable energy and protein requirements of the cow are met, but not unmet or exceeded,” they noted.
The second article, published in the journal’s July 2023 issue, shared results of a surveillance project among New York dairy herds by researchers at Cornell University. Their goal was to identify prepartum metabolic indicators and farm-level nutrition strategies associated with colostrum yield and quality (measured by Brix %).
The study included 19 commercial New York dairies ranging from 600 to 4,600 cows. Feed samples from prepartum diets were analyzed for chemical composition and particle size. Prepartum blood serum samples were evaluated for glucose and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Whole blood from postpartum cows was analyzed for herd prevalence of hyperketonemia.
Resultant data also was stratified by parity – primiparous (first-calf) cows versus multiparous dams. Like the Irish evaluation, results in this study were mixed – in this case, between parities -- and yielded few simple, “blanket” recommendations.
One area of consistency between parities was that the greatest colostrum yield for both primiparous and multiparous cows was associated with moderate starch (18.6-22.5% of dry matter), and a moderate herd prevalence of hyperketonemia (10.1-15.0%). Both parity groups also showed the highest colostrum Brix % was associated with low prepartum NDF (<39% of dry matter) and a high proportion of the diet with particle length of >19mm.
The Cornell authors concluded that, rather than hard-and-fast guidelines, their results provide prepartum variables to consider when troubleshooting colostrum production and quality on farms.
For more on calf management, read:
- Nine Ways to Help Resuscitate A Newborn Calf
- Waste Milk: Freebie or Foible?
- Try to Keep Dry to Prevent Crypto
- Well-Grown Heifers Bring More Value
- 7 Tips for More Effective Vaccination Programs in Calves
