Serum Protein Levels in Holstein Calves Fed Pasteurized-Frozen-Thawed or Unpasteurized First-milk Colostrum

Abstract

This study compared serum protein (SP) concentrations in male and female Holstein calves fed pasteurized-frozen-thawed colostrum (PFTC) or unpasteurized colostrum (UPC) in a Mexican commercial dairy herd. To prepare PFTC, first-milk colostrum was collected and mixed to form 12 batches. All batches were pasteurized at 145°F (63°C) for 30 minutes and poured into 2.11 quarts (2 L) plastic bags for freezing for a minimum of 24 hours before use. Prior to feeding, frozen bags of colostrum were thawed in water at 122 to 131°F (50 to 55°C) for 15 minutes, and fed three times to each calf during the first 22.1 hours of life. Calves receiving UPC were hand-fed 1.74 quarts (1.65 L) of colostrum per feeding for three consecutive feedings with a suckling bottle in the first 22.9 hours of life. Blood from each calf was collected between 24 and 96 hours after birth. The SP level was 5.92±0.15 g/100 mL for calves receiving PFTC and 6.53±0.14 g/100 mL for those receiving UPC ( P =0.0048). The percentage of calves with failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunoglobulins with SP levels less than 5.2 g/100 mL was 24% for calves fed PFTC and 3.8% for calves fed UPC ( P =0.06).