Influence of sodium bicarbonate on growth and health of young calves

Short communication: Addition of varying amounts of sodium bicarbonate to colostrum replacer: effects on immunoglobulin G absorption and serum bicarbonate in neonatal calves

Fifty-two dairy calves were blocked by birth date and, within each block, randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments to investigate the effects of incremental levels of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) on IgG metabolism. Treatments were (1) colostrum replacer (CR)+0 g of NaHCO(3) (control); (2) CR+15 g of NaHCO(3); (3) CR+30 g of NaHCO(3); or (4) CR+45 g of NaHCO(3). Calves were fed colostrum replacer (>200 g of IgG) in one feeding within 45 min of birth (0 h) and 2 L of milk replacer at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Only calves born in calving pens from multiparous cows with no dystocia were used in this study. Blood samples were taken at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postpartum, and serum was analyzed for IgG using radial immunoassay and bicarbonate using spectrophotometry. Feeding increasing levels of sodium bicarbonate had negative linear effects on IgG concentration, IgG apparent efficiency of absorption, and IgG area under the curve, primarily due to the effect of the highest dose of NaHCO(3) (45 g). Sodium bicarbonate treatments had no effect on serum bicarbonate concentration. However, area under the curve of serum bicarbonate increased linearly with the amount of NaHCO(3) fed.

Raising dairy replacements to meet the needs of the 21st century

Producing high quality replacement heifers at minimum cost will be one of the many challenges facing the dairy farm of the 21st century. Because replacement heifers represent a large portion of the total cost of milk production, dairy farmers will have to meet the replacement needs of their lactating herds at minimum cost to maintain the farm's profitability. To keep the US dairy industry competitive into the 21st century, researchers, extension, industry, and producers must examine the database of research in order to determine how to apply the known information to current production and research efforts. Important research is needed to improve the dairy heifers of the future. This review summarizes research of the past 12 yr related to dairy replacements and incorporates those findings into possible scenarios for future dairy calf and heifer management systems. Additional research is needed to determine how dairy replacement raising systems affect the lifetime productivity and profitability of the dairy cow.

Influence of colostrum preservation and sodium bicarbonate on performance of dairy calves

Forty-eight Holstein calves were fed one of four liquid diets from 3 to 30 days of age to compare sodium benzoate, propionic acid, and formaldehyde as preservatives for colostrum. Colostrum batches were fermented at temperatures of 20 degrees C or higher. Diets were 2.73 kg of 1) naturally fermented colostrum, or colostrum treated with 2) sodium benzoate (.5% by weight), 3) propionic acid (1.0% by weight), or 4) formaldehyde (.05% by weight). Colostrum diets were diluted with .91 kg water. Prior to feeding, 25 g. sodium bicarbonate was added to liquid diets of one-half the calves on each treatment. Liquid diets were fed once daily. Water and a 15% crude protein complete starter were offered for ad libitum consumption. Calves were weaned abruptly at 30 days of age and received only water and starter from 31 to 44 days of age. Daily gain from 0 to 4 wk and 0 to 6 wk favored calves fed colostrum treated with sodium benzoate or propionic acid. Gains from 0 to 6 wk were .33, .44, .45, and .32 kg/day for the four diets, and feed efficiencies (kg dry matter intake/kg gain) were 3.23, 2.36, 2.76, and 2.89 during the same period. Addition of sodium bicarbonate to colostrum diets improved intake during the 1st wk of feeding. Gain and feed efficiency were similar during wk 0 to 4 but favored slightly calves not receiving sodium bicarbonate during the overall study, wk 0 to 6. Daily gain and efficiencies during wk 0 to 6 were .41 and 2.53 for calves without .36 and 3.01 with sodium bicarbonate added to colostrum diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)