Impacts of dairy cow nutrition precalving on calf health

Abstract

This mini-review focuses on the effects of gestational dairy cow nutrition on calf health as mediated through colostrogenesis and calf immunity, morbidity, and mortality. The nutritional adequacy of the forage and supplementary diet and the metabolic status and body condition score of the dam can affect calf health. The mechanism of action of such impacts include maternal nutritional imbalances or deficiencies causing dyscolostrogenesis, nutritionally mediated calf ill health, and fetal programming impacts on calf health.