Difructose Anhydride and Passive Immunity Effects on Passive Immune Transfer and Performance of Feeding Difructose Anhydride to Neonatal Calves

Simple Summary Failure passive transfer of immunoglobulins from colostrum to the calf is a relatively common problem with a prevalence around 20-25%. This failure often leads to impaired health and increased mortality. Many studies have proposed different management and feeding methods to minimize this failure. One of these methods includes the supplementation of difructose anyhdride III (DFAIII). Herein, we evaluate the potential of DFAIII to improve the transfer of immunoglobulins, and in turn animal performance and health, of calves that consumed colostrum with a high immunoglobulin concentration. We conclude that even when feeding calves colostrum with a high immunoglobulin concentration, supplementation with DFAIII may promote passive transfer of immunoglobulins in neonatal Holstein calves during the first 12 h of life.Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the potential effects of supplementing difructose anyhdride III (DFAIII) during the first days of life on the absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance of calves early in life fed colostrum with a high IgG concentration. Sixty-six healthy new-born Holstein calves were randomly assigned to three treatments consisting of no supplementation (control), supplementation of 12 g/d (DFA12), or 36 g/d (DFA36) of DFAIII during the first 7 d of life via colostrum and milk replacer (MR). Calves were separated from dams at birth and bottle-fed colostrum in two meals, each targeting 2.5 L within the first 18 h of birth. Colostrum had been previously collected from other dams (and preserved frozen) within the first 2 h of calving and had a Brix value >= 32%. Daily consumption of starter concentrate and MR (and colostrum on the first day) were individually monitored. Calves were body weighed using an electronic scale at birth and on a weekly basis thereafter until the end of study at 42 d of age. A sample of colostrum fed to each calf and a blood sample from the jugular vein of the calves were collected at 12 and 24 h of life to determine the IgG concentration. The mean colostrum IgG concentration fed in the current study was 110 +/- 33.7 g/L (mean +/- SD). No differences in animal performance were found among the treatments. Calves on all treatments consumed the same amount of colostrum with a similar concentration of IgG, and thus the amount of IgG consumed was also similar. Serum IgG concentrations were greater at 24 than at 12 h but did not differ among treatments. However, the apparent efficiency of absorption of colostral immunoglobulins was greater in DFA12 and DFA36 at 12 h of life than in control calves, with no differences observed at 24 h. Even when feeding high-quality colostrum, in terms of IgG concentration, supplementation with difructose anhydride III may pose an additional advantage in promoting the passive transfer of immunoglobulins in neonatal Holstein calves during the first 12 h of life.