Neonatal Proteinuria in Calves—A Quantitative Approach

Urine testing is a convenient, non-invasive method of obtaining information about body functions. Depending on the intended purpose, urine testing may be qualitative and/or quantitative. Urine analysis can also include proteins. There are no data in the literature on the occurrence of proteinuria in healthy neonatal calves. The present study was the first that aimed to quantify the hypothesis of proteinuria occurrence in these animals in the first week of life, to assess its intensity and dynamics and to understand the underlying causes of proteinuria in healthy calves. The research was carried out on 15 healthy calves in the first seven days of life. Calves were catheterized to determine minute diuresis. Total protein concentration was determined in blood plasma and urine. Urine proteins were separated by electrophoresis (SDSPAGE) and their concentration and percentage were determined by densitometry using an image archiving and analysis software. The separated proteins were divided into three groups according to molecular weight for albumin, LMW and HMW proteins. The results were standardized per 1 m2 of body surface area and statistically analyzed. Neonatal proteinuria was demonstrated in healthy calves, mainly resulting from the high concentration of LMW proteins in the urine. Their percentages decreased significantly from 84.46% on the first day of calves’ life to 64.02% on day 7. At the same time, a statistically significant increase was observed in the proportion of albumin and high molecular weight proteins in urine total protein. Albumin percentage increased from 9.54% (on day 1) to almost 20% (on day 7), while the proportion of HMW proteins increased from 6.68% to 18.13%, respectively. The concentration of total protein in the urine of newborn calves amounted to 14.64 g/L and decreased statistically significantly during the first 72 h of postnatal life, stabilizing at the level of 3–4 g/L. The mean value of total protein excretion in the first week of life was 4.81 mg/min/m2 (i.e., 6.93 g/24 h/m2). The analysis of protein concentration in the urine and its excretion, as well as changes in urinary excretion of the tested protein fractions, indicated that neonatal proteinuria in healthy neonatal calves was tubular (i.e., main reason is the reduced absorption of proteins in nephrons). In addition, research showed that there was a rapid improvement in resorptive mechanisms in tubular cells. It should be assumed that the filtration barrier in the kidneys of these animals after birth is morphologically prepared to retain high molecular weight proteins. It seems that the increased permeability of the filtration barrier in the glomeruli does not necessarily indicate the immaturity of the kidneys, but may indicate the kidneys’ adaptation to excess protein removal from the body during feeding with high-protein food (colostrum), with an open intestinal barrier enabling protein absorption from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood.

Molecular Variation Between RT-PCR Detected Rotavirus Infection of Naturally Diarrheic Neonatal Calves and Rotavirus Strains of Commercial Vaccines

Neonatal diarrhea is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in calves, and Rotavirus is the main viral etiology. Rotavirus vaccines are one of the main important methods for control of diarrhea in neonates' calves. In the current study, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of Bovine Rotavirus Group A (BRVA) were performed in our study. 1 Calf guard® vaccine genotype (G6P1) and 5 different field genotypes (2 G6P5, 1 G10P5, G10P? and 1 G10P11) were subjected to DNA sequencing. We observed that at the nucleotide level, G10P5 and G10P? sequences were 100 % identical with each other, two G6P5 sequences were 100% identical with each other and there was no significant similarity between sequences of G10P11 with sequences of G6P5, G10P5, and G10P? The phylogenetic analysis of G10P5 and G10P? isolates showed a close cluster with G10 isolates of Sharkia governorate, Egypt, phylogenetic analysis of two G6P5 and one G10P11 isolate showed a close cluster with the VP4 gene of Rotavirus isolates of Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. Molecular comparison between detected and typed Rotaviruses' genotypes with other genotypes of common vaccines indicated that there were genetically close or distance between field and vaccine Rotavirus strains.

Assessment of Postnatal Pulmonary Adaption in Bovine Neonates Using Electric Impedance Tomography (EIT)

Several aspects of postnatal pulmonary adaption in the bovine neonate remain unclear, particularly the dynamics and regional ventilation of the lungs. We used electric impedance tomography (EIT) to measure changes in ventilation in the first 3 weeks of life in 20 non-sedated neonatal calves born without difficulty in sternal recumbency. Arterial blood gas variables were determined in the first 24 h after birth. Immediately after birth, dorsal parts of the lungs had 4.53% ± 2.82% nondependent silent spaces (NSS), and ventral parts had 5.23% ± 2.66% dependent silent spaces (DSS). The latter increased in the first hour, presumably because of gravity-driven ventral movement of residual amniotic fluid. The remaining lung regions had good ventilation immediately after birth, and the percentage of lung regions with high ventilation increased significantly during the study period. The centre of ventilation was always dorsal to and on the right of the theoretical centre of ventilation. The right lung was responsible for a significantly larger proportion of ventilation (63.84% ± 12.74%, p < 0.00001) compared with the left lung. In the right lung, the centrodorsal lung area was the most ventilated, whereas, in the left lung, it was the centroventral area. Tidal impedance changes, serving as a surrogate for tidal volume, increased in the first 3 weeks of life (p < 0.00001). This study shows the dynamic changes in lung ventilation in the bovine neonate according to EIT measurements. The findings form a basis for the recognition of structural and functional lung disorders in neonatal calves.

Prevalence of Bovine Rotavirus and Coronavirus in Neonatal Calves in Dairy Farms of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Preliminary Study

Background. Bovine rotavirus (BRV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) are the most common viral agents in neonatal calf diarrhea and result in serious economic consequences. The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology of those viruses in randomly selected dairy farms of Addis Ababa. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 using a probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling technique. A total of 110 calves, less than 30 days of age, from 57 dairy herds were involved in the study. Associated factors of herds and calves were collected using semistructured interviews from farm owners and through physical observation of selected calves. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed using the sandwich ELISA method. Data generated from both semistructured interviews and laboratory investigation were analyzed using STATA_MP version 15. Results. From the total 110 calves, 42 (38.18%) had diarrhea during the survey. The prevalence of bovine rotavirus and coronavirus was 3.64% (4/110) and 0.91% (1/110), respectively. Diarrhea, feeding colostrum timing, and sex of the neonatal calves had statistically significant association with bovine rotavirus infection ( p < 0.05 ). All rotavirus-positive neonatal calves were identified in small scale dairy farms and in dairy farms that reported mortality though they lack statistically significant association. Only one coronavirus case was detected among the neonatal calves. The case was identified among small scale herds and in a herd with diarrheal cases. The sex of the coronavirus calf was female, diarrheic, and among 11-20 days old. Conclusion. The prevalence of rotavirus and coronavirus infections in neonatal calves was seldom in dairy farms of the study area. Rotavirus was more common than coronavirus, and further studies should be initiated on other (infectious and noninfectious) causes of neonatal calf diarrhea in the area.

290 Encapsulated Sodium Butyrate (Ultramix GF) for Transitioning Neonatal Calves from Milk to Calf Starter

Butyrate (UltraMix GF; Adisseo) is known to enhance ruminal papillae development for transitioning calves to dry feed. The hypothesis was that butyrate would be beneficial to neonatal calf growth performance. Eighty 2- to 5-d old Holstein bull calves were assigned to one of 2 treatments using a randomized complete block design. Treatments were: 1) control: no butyrate; or 2) butyrate: 0.3% butyrate added to milk replacer (MR). Calves were fed 2x/d at 0630 and 1800 h along with free choice water and a 22% CP mini-pelleted calf starter (CS). The MR was fed at 0.567 kg/d for d 1–14, then increased to 0.85 kg/d for d 15–42, and feeding reduced to 1x/d for d 42–49 with weaning occurring after the 49-d experimental period. Calves fed butyrate demonstrated greater (P &lt; 0.04) ending body weight (BW; 54.7 and 56.2 kg, for control and butyrate, respectively), BW gain (29.0 and 31.7 kg), and average daily gains (ADG; 591.3 and 647.7 g/d), compared with calves fed control. Dry matter intake (DMI) was similar (P &gt; 0.10) for both treatments, but the number of d required for calves to consume 0.9 kg CS for 3 consecutive days (47.3 and 45.7 d) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for calves fed butyrate compared with calves fed control. Feed conversions were improved (P &lt; 0.05) for calves fed butyrate (0.53 and 0.58 kg/kg) compared with calves fed control. At the end of the 49-d study, withers height tended (P &lt; 0.10) to be greater for calves fed butyrate (85.2 and 86.0 cm) compared with calves fed control, while the remaining frame measurements (hip height, hip width, body length, and heart girth) and fecal scores were similar (P &gt; 0.10) for calves fed both treatments. Feeding neonatal calves butyrate in the MR improved growth performance and reduced the days to transition calves to CS.

524 Late-Breaking: Growth Performance of Neonatal Calves Fed Milk Replacer 2 versus 3 Times per Day

Several calf studies demonstrate advantages when feeding greater protein and/or milk solids amounts, however studies comparing 2x/d versus 3x/d feeding are limited. Forty 2- to 5-d old Holstein bull calves were blocked by body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments. Treatments were: 1) 2X: milk replacer (MR) fed 2x/d; and 2) 3X: MR fed 3x/d. The MR was fed at 15% solids at 0630 and 1800 h and the 3rd 3X feeding was at 1200 h. 2X calves were fed MR at 0.567 kg/d for d 1–14, increased to 0.85 kg/d for d 15–35, and reduced to 1x/d at 0.425 kg/d for d 36–42 for the 42 d study. 3X calves were fed MR 0.851 kg/d for d 1–14, increased to 1.275 kg/d for d 15–35, and reduced to 1x/d at 0.425 kg/d for d 36–42. Calf starter (CS) and water were free choice. Initial BW was a significant (P &lt; 0.01) covariate and BW (55.6 and 57.3 kg for 2X and 3X, respectively) tended (P &lt; 0.09) to be greater for calves fed 3X compared with 2X fed calves, but BW gains (25.5 and 27.7 kg) were similar (P &gt; 0.10). A treatment by week interaction (P &lt; 0.01) demonstrated variable BW gains. Intake of CS (0.28 and 0.13 kg/d) was approximately 63% lower (P &lt; 0.04) for calves fed 3X compared with calves fed 2X. Feed conversions (0.65 and 0.60 kg/kg) were greater (P &lt; 0.04) for calves fed 2X compared with calves fed 3X. Calves fed 2X had less scours (fecal score=0; 34.3 and 29.7 d) compared with 3X fed calves. Providing an additional MR feeding demonstrated minimal BW gains. Providing a 3rd daily feeding greatly reduces CS intake and inhibits the transition needed for weaning calves.

The Effect of Season of Birth On The Morphometrics of Newborn Belgian Blue Calves

Breed type and environmental factors such as breeding season may have a significant impact on neonatal weight loss calf size. We followed a total of 236 elective cesarean sections in Belgian Blue (BB) cattle, in which neonatal calves were morphometrically measured (in cm) in the first 72 hours after delivery of the child using a strictly standardized protocol. The influence of the season of birth on each calf measurement was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models, including farm of origin as a random effect. Calves born in spring had a longer diagonal length (P = 0.05) (69.7 ± 1.24) than those born in autumn (66.9 ± 1.16). The tibial length of calves born in spring (35.8 ± 0.48) was longer (P> 0.02) than those born in autumn (33.1 ± 0.57) or summer (34.1 ± 0.49). Calves born in autumn have a shorter head diameter (P> 0.02) (12.9 ± 0.23) than those born in summer (12.6 ± 0.29) or winter (13.5 ± 0.22). For all other parameters, no differences were found (P> 0.08). Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the birth season influences the morphometrics of neonatal BB calves, with a tendency for spring to be associated with the largest body size. The latter is important to know to avoid dystocia when BB cattle are crossed with other breeds.