Effective colostrum management to reduce morbidity and mortality in calves

摘要

Separation of the maternal and foetal blood supplies by the bovine placenta prevents in utero transmission of immunoglobulins (Ig). The agammaglobulinaemic calf therefore depends almost entirely on absorption of maternal Ig from colostrum after birth(Godden, 2008) (Fig. 1). Absorption of maternal Ig across the small intestine during the first 24 hours after birth, termed passive transfer, helps protect the calf against common disease organisms until its own immature immune system becomes functional.