Research Summary - 2
Delivery method (esophageal tube vs nipple bottle) at second colostrum feeding II: Impacts on dairy calf appetite and behavior
| Date/Time: |
9/12/2025
15:15
|
| Author: |
Destiny Smith |
| Clinic: |
University of Minnesota |
| City, State, ZIP: |
Saint Paul, MN 55108 |
Destiny Smith, BS
1
;
Kenson Boelke, BS
1
;
Isabela Karels, N/A
2
;
Adam Geiger, MS, PhD
3
;
Whitney A Knauer , VMD, PhD
1
;
Sandra M Godden , DVM, DVSc
1
;
1Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
2Department of Dairy and Food Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007
3Zinpro Animal Nutrition, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Introduction:
The delivery and absorption of sufficient colostral antibodies shortly after birth has important impacts on calf health, growth and lifetime performance. The 2014 NAHMS study reported that a majority of dairy farms surveyed offered a second feeding of maternal colostrum (MC) to calves, typically 8-10 hrs after the first feeding. While testimonials and observational (uncontrolled) studies suggest that providing a second feeding of MC enhances the transfer of passive immunity (TPI), there is a concern that it may negatively impact subsequent calf appetite or behavior. Our objectives were to investigate if providing a second feeding of MC or a colostrum supplement (CS) and the method of feeding (esophageal tube vs. nipple bottle) affects appetite or behavior over the first 4d of life.
Materials and methods:
All newborn enrolled dairy and dairy x beef calves were tube-fed MC (average IgG = 84 ± 10g/L [μ ± SD]) within 56 ± 17 min of birth. Calves were then randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment groups for the second colostrum feeding, delivered 8 ± 0.2 hrs after the first feeding: milk replacer by bottle (MRB; 1.9L MR), MC by bottle (MCB; 1.9L of MC with 57.7 ± 6.5 g/L IgG ), MC by tube (MCT; 1.9L of MC with 58.9 ± 6.3 g/L IgG ), CS by bottle (CSB; 1L CS with 100g/L IgG ), or CS by tube (CSB; 1L CS with 100 g/L IgG). Bottle fed calves were offered the bottle for 15 min, with the total amount consumed (mL) recorded at the second (treatment) and third (milk) feeding. In addition, appetite was measured each day at the morning feeding by study technicians. A refusal was defined as a calf who refused greater than 25% (500mL) of her offered milk volume. Prior to the first colostrum feeding, all calves were fitted with an activity monitor on their left hind leg that measured standing and lying time continuously for 4d. The effect of treatment on calf appetite and behavior was evaluated with linear mixed models, accounting for repeated measures. Models offered to control for calf breed, sex and calf size. Multiple comparisons were accounted for with a Tukey correction.
Results:
There was no difference in calf size, sex, breed, or birth weight among treatment groups at enrollment. Total amount consumed at the 2nd (treatment) feeding varied by treatment group (p<0.001) such that MCT consumed the largest volume (1900 ± 0 mL [μ ± SD]), with similar consumption observed in MRB (1329 ± 592mL) and MCB (1214 ± 686 mL), MCB and CST (1000 ± 0), and CST and CSB (756 ± 384mL). Thus, we observed a difference in combined overall consumption at the first and second feeding (p < 0.001). The MCT group had the highest overall consumption (5380 ± 450mL [μ ± SD]), with similar consumption observed between MCB (4603 ± 778mL), MRB (4809 ± 711mL), and CST (4480 ± 450mL), and in CST compared to CSB (4114 ± 571mL). Fewer calves in the CSB group refused >25% of their first milk feeding (16.6%) as compared to MCB (53.5%) or MRB (58.7%), with no other differences observed among groups. There was no difference in appetite scores between groups when considering all three days after colostrum feeding (p=0.92). In the hour after the second colostrum feeding, calves in the MCT (52.5 ± 1.6 min [μ ± SE]) and CST (51.7 ± 1.6 min) group spent more time laying as compared to calves in the MRB (46.7 ± 1.6 min) or MCB (45.7 ± 1.5 min) group.
Significance:
Though we observed differences in both appetite and behavior among treatment groups, these changes were transient and did not persist beyond the first day of life. Therefore, this study suggests that practitioners can comfortably recommend a second colostrum feeding (via esophageal tube or bottle) at least 8h from the initial feeding to no detriment to calf appetite or behavior in the first four days of life.
