Factors associated with colostrum immunoglobulin G concentration in northern-Victorian dairy cows

Abstract Immunoglobulins (Ig) are essential components in the colostrum of bovine species that enable passive immunization of newborn calves. Concentrations of fat and protein are greater in colostrum compared with mature milk and represent a vital source of energy and nutrients. Colostral IgG was shown to vary between individual dairy cows, but comparative data on different breeds and performance levels are scarce. The objective of the present field study was to investigate the contents of total IgG, fat, protein, and lactose in colostrum in different Swiss and German dairy and dual-purpose breeds. We collected colostrum samples of 458 cows of 13 different breeds (dairy breeds: Brown Swiss, Swiss and German Holstein Friesian, and New Zealand Holstein; dual-purpose breeds: German Fleckvieh, Holstein Friesian × Montbéliarde, Montbéliarde, Murnau-Werdenfels, Original Braunvieh, Pinzgauer, Rhetic Gray, and Simmental; and beef-type crossbred: Charolais × Holstein Friesian). Colostrum samples were obtained between 5 and 900 min after calving and analyzed for total IgG, fat protein, and lactose contents. Immunoglobulin G concentrations varied between 12.7 and 204.0 mg/mL. No effect of breeding purpose (i.e., dairy or dual-purpose) nor of previous lactation yield on IgG content was observed. However, milking of cows for the first time later than 12 h after parturition resulted in lower colostrum IgG concentrations compared with colostrum harvest within 9 h after calving (P < 0.05). Multiparous cows had a higher colostral IgG concentration than primiparous cows (P < 0.0001). Overall, concentrations of IgG and other constituents in colostrum varied widely in the different cattle breeds. High-yielding dairy cows did not have poorer colostrum quality compared with lower-yielding animals or beef and dual-purpose breeds, which suggests an individually different transfer of circulating IgG into colostrum.

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Variation in the timing of ovulation relative to other follicular phase events following natural and induced luteal regression in dairy cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200002180 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 1999 ◽

pp. 63-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G.E. Mann ◽

G.S. Starbuck ◽

M. Benboulaid ◽

A.R. Peters ◽

G.E. Lamming

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Ultrasound Scanning ◽

Luteal Regression ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Precise Timing ◽

Breeding Programmes ◽

Prostaglandin F

Insemination at an inappropriate time is one of many constraints to good fertility in dairy cows. As a result, many studies have attempted to improve the synchrony of oestrus in controlled breeding programmes. However, the success of insemination depends not merely on the detection of oestrus, but also on the timing of ovulation relative to insemination. Thus a better understanding of the factors associated with the precise timing of behavioural oestrus and ovulation is required. In this study the time of ovulation has been determined, by ultrasound scanning, in relation to a variety of follicular phase events in dairy cows following both natural luteolysis and luteolysis induced by treatment with a prostaglandin F2a analogue. The objectives were firstly to determine whether differences existed in the timing of follicular phase events following natural and induced luteal regression and secondly to determine the degree of variation that exists between the timing of ovulation and the timing of other follicular phase events.

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Factors Associated with Milk Urea Concentrations in Ontario Dairy Cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)74458-x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 107-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

S.M. Godden ◽

K.D. Lissemore ◽

D.F. Kelton ◽

K.E. Leslie ◽

J.S. Walton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Milk Urea

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Peripartal progesterone and prolactin have little effect on the rapid transport of immunoglobulin G into colostrum of dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2013-7795 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 97 (5) ◽

pp. 2923-2931 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

J.J. Gross ◽

E.C. Kessler ◽

V. Bjerre-Harpoth ◽

C. Dechow ◽

C.R. Baumrucker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Immunoglobulin G ◽

Rapid Transport

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Factors associated with milking characteristics in dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2012-6162 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 96 (9) ◽

pp. 5943-5953 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

D.P. Berry ◽

B. Coughlan ◽

B. Enright ◽

S. Coughlan ◽

M. Burke

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Factors Associated

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The effects of intraruminal infusions of urea on the voluntary intake and milk production of cows receiving grass silage diets

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029900029502 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 455-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jai-Jun Choung ◽

David G. Chamberlain ◽

Phillip C. Thomas ◽

Ian Bradbury

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Insulin In Plasma ◽

Voluntary Intake ◽

Higher Doses

SummaryResponses of dairy cows given silage diets to the intraruminal infusion of urea in progressively increasing doses were studied in four experiments, two with non-lactating cows and two with lactating cows. No clinical symptoms of NH3 toxicity were observed in any of the experiments. When urea was infused continuously, silage intake was depressed (P < 0·05) when the total supply of N exceeded the equivalent of 250g crude protein (CP)/kg DM in the total diet. However, when the urea load was administered twice daily, as opposed to continuously, intake depression (P < 0·05) occurred at the equivalent of 170g CP/kg DM. At the higher doses of urea, concentrations of NH3 in peripheral blood increased and were accompanied by increased concentrations of glucose and reduced levels of insulin in plasma. In general, responses of milk production followed those of silage intake but there was evidence of greater proportional reductions in the yield of lactose relative to that of fat and protein. It is concluded that the voluntary intake of high-protein silages may be depressed by factors associated with high rates of absorption of NH3 from the rumen.

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