Most Passive Immunity Occurs in the First Six Hours By Glenn Selk December 15, 2020

 

Newborn calf taking in colostrum (photo courtesy of Todd Williams)

 

Resistance to disease is greatly dependent on antibodies or immunoglobulins and can be either active or passive in origin. In active immunity, the body produces antibodies in response to infection or vaccination. Passive immunity gives temporary protection by transfer of certain immune substances from resistant individuals.

An example of passive immunity is passing of antibodies from dam to calf via the colostrum (first milk after calving). This transfer only occurs during the first few hours following birth. Research is indicating that successful transfer of passive immunity (the first day of life) enhances disease resistance and performance through the first two years of life including the feedlot phase.

Timing of colostrum feeding is important because the absorption of immunoglobulin from colostrum decreases linearly from birth. "Intestinal closure" occurs when very large molecules are no longer released into the circulation and this occurs because the specialized absorptive cells are sloughed from the gut epithelium. In calves, closure is virtually complete 24 hours after birth.

Efficiency of absorption declines from birth, particularly after 12 hours.  Feeding may induce earlier closure, but there is little colostral absorption after 24 hours of age even if the calf is starved. This principle of timing of colostrum feeding holds true whether the colostrum is directly from the first milk of the dam or supplied by hand feeding the baby calf previously obtained colostrum.

Provide high risk baby calves (born to thin first calf heifers or calves that endured a difficult birth) at least 2 quarts of fresh or thawed frozen colostrum within the first 6 hours of life and another 2 quarts within another 12 hours. This is especially important for those baby calves too weak to nurse naturally. Thaw frozen colostrum slowly in a microwave oven or warm water so as to not allow it to over- heat.

Thawing colostrum in a high-power modern microwave at full power can cause denaturation of the protein.  Therefore, if the colostrum is overheated and denaturation of the proteins occur, the disease protection capability of the immunoglobulin is greatly diminished.  If at all possible, feed the calf natural colostrum first, before feeding commercial colostrum supplements.  If natural colostrum is not available, commercial colostrum replacers (those with 100 g or more of immunoglobulin per dose) can be given to the calf within the first 6 hours and repeated 12 hours later.

 

Beef Production Methane Emissions Reduced By Novel Feed Ingredient By Industry Press Release December 16, 2020

 

  (CAB) Cattle feeding

 

A two-year large-scale trial in beef cattle in Alberta, Canada has successfully demonstrated that a novel feed ingredient, developed by Royal DSM, can be included in commercial feedlot diets to reduce methane emissions by up to 80%, without negative effects on animal health and performance parameters and carcass characteristics, according to the company. This was the largest and longest trial for methane reduction in beef to date. The trial alone already reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 1,473 tonnes CO2e. This is comparable to taking 500 cars off the road for a year.

The trial was conducted by a Canadian Research Consortium consisting of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Feedlot Health Management Services, Viresco Solutions, and DSM Nutritional Products, and with support from the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association. Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) committed $1.5 million to this $3 million project through its Methane Challenge. The project was recognized for having positive implications for the province due to the fact 70% of Canada’s cattle production happens in Alberta. With ~15,000 heads of beef included in the trial, it represents the largest single trial conducted on methane reduction technologies for ruminants.

Methane emission from ruminants represents a significant portion of anthropogenic greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change. Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and sustainable living, has developed a feed ingredient to reduce enteric methane formation in ruminants by over 30% on average. The ingredient is scientifically called 3-NOP and is considered a breakthrough technology that inhibits methane formation in the rumen of cattle.

The trial demonstrated the commercial viability of feeding 3-NOP in backgrounding and finishing operations in Alberta’s beef cattle industry in a large-scale field trial.  The project (1) evaluated the relative effects of feeding the product on methane reduction and feedlot performance, health and carcass quality outcomes in feedlot cattle fed typical North American finishing diets (corn and barley grain based diets) as well as in a high forage, backgrounding diet, (2) evaluated direct measurement techniques for methane emissions in a commercial beef feedlot where the product was used, and (3) demonstrated the use of the product in day-to-day practicalities of commercial feedlots.

Measurements indicated that on average 70% enteric methane emission reduction was found when the feed ingredient was provided in steam-flaked or dry-rolled barley finishing diets at 125 mg/kg of feed dry matter. In steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets, a reduction in the range of 31% - 80% at the 125 mg/kg dosage of the feed ingredient was observed. Lastly, in backgrounding diets, increasing the dose of the feed ingredient stepwise from 150 to 200 mg/kg decreased the yield of methane by 17%-26% compared with control animals. The trial successfully demonstrated that  the ingredient can be included in commercial feedlot diets to reduce methane emissions, without negative effects on animal health and performance parameters and carcass characteristics.

 

The inclusion of the feed ingredient in the diets of cattle has resulted in real, permanent and quantifiable reductions of methane emissions and has broad applications across Alberta’s beef and dairy sector, and in feedlots globally.

Steve MacDonald, CEO Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), comments: “Alberta’s agricultural sector is a world leader in sustainable practices. The results of this trial highlight that further opportunities are on the horizon for beef and dairy producers to better manage methane from cattle. ERA’s investments are accelerating the solutions that will deliver the improved economic and environmental outcomes Alberta and the world need.”

As Project Leader Karen Haugen-Kozyra of Viresco Solutions states: “This trial is significant for two reasons: it demonstrates that compared to conventional feed mixes, the inclusion of 3-NOP in the diet mix for cattle has resulted in real, permanent and quantifiable reductions of methane emissions (ranging from 31-80% in finishing diets). It therefore has broad application potential across Alberta’s beef and dairy sector - and further afield. We are particularly happy also that the trial in itself generated CO2e greenhouse gas reductions (GHG) of close to 1,500 tonnes clearly showing the impact this solution by DSM can have - especially when it is on the market and scaled up.”

Mark van Nieuwland, Program Director at DSM is happy with the results of the trial: “We see the demand for low carbon beef and dairy products increasing globally. We are therefore very proud that our methane reduction solution has proven to be highly effective at scale and with this level of impact. This is the largest cattle trial DSM has ever contributed to with over 15,000 cattle tested. Our solution showcases well DSM’s purpose-led, performance driven strategy. We are very grateful also to ERA and the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association for their generous financial support to make this trial a reality and to deliver true impact for the planet’s future.”

DSM has filed the novel feed ingredient for commercial registration under the trade name Bovaer® in various geographies.