Calves with Sam

Passive Transfer Failure: It's Hard to Hit Zero!

In research study Holstein heifer calves received their first colostrum feeding at 4 or less hours after birth. They were fed 4.2 quarts of colostrum in one feeding that averaged 58g/l quality - so on the average they received around 240g of Ig's. 

In spite of this exemplary care they still had 2 percent passive transfer failure. The average efficiency of absorption (percent of antibodies fed that end up in the calf's blood) was around 23 percent. However, the range of efficiency was from less than 10 to over 50 percent. 

Another part of the study included calves fed 4 quarts as first feeding (less than 4 hours old) and another 2 quarts before they were 12 hours old. This colostrum averaged nearly 70g/l. With the combination of two feedings of excellent quality  colostrum (added up to 390g of Ig's) a higher level of passive transfer was  achieved.   

Bottom line? If you have a calf now and then that has passive transfer failure don't beat yourself up over it. Genetics always will play a role when you roll the dice and once in a while you will lose. 

Despite the wide range in apparent absorption efficiency demonstrated in this study it was clear that feeding 4 quarts (10% body weight) of good quality colostrum within 4 hours of birth will result in an excellent program for calf immunity. Other research has shown that at this volume similar results will be achieved with either one or two feedings and feeding either by bottle or tube feeder. 

[Click HERE for more on this.]  

Reference: Halleran, J. and Others, " Apparent efficiency of colostral immunoglobulin G absorption in Holstein heifer." Journal of Dairy Science 100;3282-3286. Osaka, J. and Others, "Effect of mass of immunoglobulin intake and age at first colostrum feeding on serum IgG concentration in Holstein calves." Journal of Dairy Science 97:6608-6612.