Effect of different methods of colostrum storage on performance and blood parameters in male Simmental calves

Introduction: Colostrum is a secretion product produced by the mammary glands immediately after birth. This vital and unique composition is designed to meet all the animal's needs when it cannot eat. For various reasons, maternal accidents can occur during pregnancy and birth, making it impossible to produce appropriate colostrum for the newborn calf. Therefore, the main task of the farmer is to provide suitable replacement colostrum as quickly as possible so that he can maintain the results of his year-long efforts to continue the generation. Various methods are used to preserve colostrum. Methods of colostrum storage include fermentation and freezing. Fermentation of the colostrum results in physical and chemical changes in the colostrum that can aid in the transfer of nutrients to the calf. This research was carried out to study and compare the effect of different methods of colostrum preservation on the efficiency of newborn calves of the Simmental breed and to recommend the use of one of the more suitable methods so that if the farmer does not have access to suitable colostrum, he can use.
Materials and methods: To carry out this study, 32 newborn Simmental calves with an average weight of 39.5 ± 3.2 kg were used. The calves were divided into four equal groups (eight replicates per treatment), including 1. group fed with fresh colostrum from the mother (control), 2. group fed with fermented colostrum without any additives (fermented without additives), 3. the group that was fed colostrum fermented with low-fat yogurt (fermented with yogurt), and 4. the group was fed with colostrum that was kept frozen (frozen) in the freezer and heated to a temperature of 37 °^C before consumption. Initially, a colostrum bank was used with 110 liters of colostrum from the first and second lactation cows, which started colostrum production at the same time by synchronizing parturition. Colostrum samples were separated and prepared in polyethylene (PET) plastic containers with a volume of two liters. In the fermented colostrum group, after filling the containers of the group with yogurt, two percent yogurt was added, and the containers were completely sealed and stored at room temperature until the experiment. The dishes belonging to the frozen group were stored in the freezer at -20 °^C. In the first two days, all calves received two liters of colostrum per meal twice daily in the morning and evening. Feed was consumed daily. Calves were weighed at the beginning of parturition, on the 30^th and 60^th days of the schedule in the morning and before feed distribution, and from the 27^th day of the calves' birth, the apparent digestibility of nutrients (dry matter) was measured. Samples were taken from three-day experimental rations and feces. Blood was collected from the jugular vein on days 0, 1, and 30. After serum separation, blood factors such as glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and total blood protein were measured. At the beginning of the course and the end of the project, body parameters were measured to check the growth status of the calf: hip width, height from withers, chest circumference, body length, chest depth, wrist circumference, and eye relief.
Results and discussion: The results of different treatments of colostrum consumption in newborn calves concerning blood biochemical parameters showed that the amount of glucose in all three sampling times was not significantly different in all treatments, and the amount of blood protein and triglycerides were also not affected by the treatments (P>0.05). Colostrum consumption with different storage methods had no significant influence on the amount of concentrate consumed, the digestibility of the dry matter consumed, the final weight of the calf, the daily weight gain, and the feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). Also, the results showed that there were no significant changes in physical indices among different groups (P>0.05). The use of colostrum with different storage methods had no difference in the amount of cells associated with the immune system, including types of white blood cells, and therefore the immune conditions were similar in all groups (P>0.05).
Conclusions: The results of this study showed that consumption of colostrum in simply fermented form or with the addition of fat-free yogurt, as well as colostrum stored in frozen form, had a positive influence on blood parameters in newborn calves compared to the control group that used fresh maternal colostrum. The use of colostrum stored in any of the mentioned methods, depending on the conditions of animal husbandry, can help provide the colostrum needed by the calf and solve the problem of the animal breeder.