Spotlight on Health Management in Calves

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 2258

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary (UCVM), Calgary, AB T3R 1J3, Canada
Interests: calf health; health management; epidemiology; passive immunity; colostrum

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Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
Interests: calf health; passive immunity; colostrum; immunoglobulins; antimicrobial alternatives; internal medicine; neonatal critical care; acid–base disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rearing healthy calves is crucial to the sustainability of the cattle industry. Multifactorial diseases such as neonatal calf diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease cause substantial economic losses in the dairy and beef industry due to treatment costs, calf losses, and poor performance. Advances in disease prevention and treatments for calves will improve animal health, productivity, and welfare. Healthy calves require a robust immune system, which is largely dependent on colostrum management in the first few weeks of life. Understanding maternal and calfhood vaccination and their integration also has the potential to significantly decrease morbidity and mortality. Calf nutrition and environmental management are also critical areas to consider when raising calves, along with considering their behavioural needs to optimize welfare, health, and productivity. Further, developments in non-antimicrobial treatment options seem relevant in the face of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Continually updating and collating information about best management practices for raising healthy calves are needed to ensure sustainable calf care.

This Special Issue named "Spotlight on Health Management in Calves" aims to strengthen the exchange of information between clinical veterinarians and researchers through the publication of a selection of research articles from leading researchers in this field. We welcome original research papers as well as reviews summarizing important aspects of calf health, productivity, and welfare on an individual animal or herd level. We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate further collaboration between researchers and veterinarians engaged in all aspects of pre-weaning calf health.

Dr. Claire Windeyer
Dr. Lisa Gamsjaeger
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • neonatal calf diarrhea
  • bovine respiratory disease
  • best management practices
  • transfer of passive immunity
  • immunoglobulins
  • colostrum
  • calf vaccination
  • maternal vaccination
  • behaviour
  • welfare
  • nutrition
  • housing
  • ventilation
  • antimicrobial use
  • neonatal acid–base disorders

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

9 pages, 431 KiB  
Article
Colostrum Replacement and Serum IgG Concentrations in Beef Calves Delivered by Elective Cesarean Section
by Manuel F. Chamorro, Miguel Saucedo, Lisa Gamsjaeger, Emily J. Reppert, Matt Miesner and Thomas Passler
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060258 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
Assistance during calving and cesarean section (C-section) are important risk factors for the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in beef calves, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in beef calves during the preweaning period. Colostrum replacement recommendations for beef [...] Read more.
Assistance during calving and cesarean section (C-section) are important risk factors for the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in beef calves, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in beef calves during the preweaning period. Colostrum replacement recommendations for beef calves, and especially for those delivered by C-section, are unavailable. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not colostrum replacement or supplementation with a commercially available product could increase serum IgG concentrations in beef calves delivered by elective C-section, compared to beef calves that nursed colostrum naturally. An elective C-section was performed in 32 pregnant beef cows and first-calf heifers. Immediately after delivery, newborn calves were randomly assigned to one of three different treatment groups. Group A calves (n = 7) were fed one packet of a commercial colostrum replacer (CR) product providing 60 g of IgG within 30 min of life. A second packet of the same CR was fed at 6 h of life. Group B calves (n = 13) were fed the same CR at the same frequency as group A; however, these calves were reunited with their dams after the second CR feeding to allow additional nursing of maternal colostrum. Group C calves (n = 12) were united with their dams immediately after surgery without colostrum intervention. Serum IgG levels at 48 h of life were greater in group C calves and in calves born to multiparous cows. Based on the results of this study, neither colostrum replacement nor supplementation result in higher serum IgG concentrations in beef calves delivered by elective C-section compared with natural nursing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spotlight on Health Management in Calves)
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