Addition of sodium bicarbonate to either 1 or 2 feedings of colostrum replacer: Effect on uptake and rate of absorption of immunoglobulin G in neonatal calves

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2012-06, Vol.95 (6), p.3337-3341
• Main Authors: Cabral, R.G, Kent, E.J, Haines, D.M, Erickson, P.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; Animal Feed; Animal productions; Animals; Animals, Newborn - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; blood; Cattle; colostrum; dairy calves; Dietary Supplements; dystocia; Female; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Holstein; immunoassays; immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - metabolism; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; Male; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; sodium bicarbonate; Sodium Bicarbonate - administration & dosage; Sodium Bicarbonate - pharmacology; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2011-5137

Forty Holstein dairy calves were blocked by birth date and sex, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments within each block to elucidate the effect of feeding regimen and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) supplementation on absorption of IgG from colostrum replacer (CR). Calves received CR containing 191.4g of IgG fed either in 1 feeding at 0h (within 45min of birth), with or without 30g of NaHCO₃, or in 2 feedings (127.6g of IgG at 0h, with or without 20g of NaHCO₃, and 63.8g of IgG at 6h, with or without 10g of NaHCO₃). The treatments were (1) 1 feeding of CR+0g of NaHCO₃; (2) 1 feeding of CR+30g of NaHCO₃; (3) 2 feedings of CR+0g of NaHCO₃; and (4) 2 feedings of CR+30g total of NaHCO₃. Only calves born with no dystocia were used on this study. Blood samples were taken at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24h postpartum and were analyzed for IgG using a radial immunoassay. Results indicated that, individually, feeding regimen and NaHCO₃ treatments had no effect. However, the interaction was significant for 24-h IgG and area under the curve, and showed a trend for apparent efficiency of absorption. Absorption rate data indicated that, for calves fed within 45min of birth, most IgG absorption occurred in the first 6h after birth. From 6 to 12h postpartum, IgG absorption started to decrease; however, IgG absorption remained higher for calves fed in a single feeding than in 2 feedings. These data indicated that NaHCO₃ may increase IgG absorption when calves are fed colostrum in a single feeding but is not beneficial when colostrum is fed in 2 feedings.