Calves with Sam

Old Standards and New Standards for Passive Transfer

Just for review the old standards used since the 1980's to define "successful" passive transfer have been5.2 grams per deciliter (g/dl) or10 grams per liter (g/l).

In a talk given to the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, Jason Lumbard DVM with USDA-APHIS reviewed a new set of proposed standards. 

Categories     IgG Levels           Total Protein          Equivalent Brix          Proposed % of Calves

                      (g.L)                     levels (g/dL)          levels%                       in each category

Excellent       Greater than or     Greater than or       Greater than or          Greater than

                      equal to 25.0         equal to 6.2            equal to 9.4               40%

Good             18.0 to 24.9          5.8 to 6.1                 8.9 to 9.3                  Approximately 30%

Fair               10.0 to 17.9          5.1 to 5.7                 8.1  to 8.8                 Approximately 20%

Poor               Less than 10.0     Less than 5.1          Less than 8.1            Less than 10%

These certainly are challenging if you only standard has been 5.0 or higher for success.