Colostrum and blood oxidative stress indices: Effects on growth performance and health in neonatal Holstein calves.

Namdari, Solmaz; Dadpasand, Mohammad; Kargar, Shahryar; Jafarzadeh-Shirazi, Mohammad Reza; Akhlaghi, Amir

This research evaluated the blood and colostrum oxidative stress index (OSi) in newborn Holstein calves and its potential correlations with nutrient intake, growth performance, skeletal development, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Eighty-three neonatal Holstein calves were categorized based on their blood and consumed colostrum OSi levels. There were four treatment groups, i.e., 25 calves consumed low OSi colostrum that had low OSi in the blood taken 24-h after first meal consumption of colostrum (LL), 17 calves consumed low OSi colostrum that had high OSi in the blood (LH), 22 calves consumed high OSi colostrum that had low OSi in the blood (HL), and 19 calves consumed high OSi colostrum that had high OSi in the blood (HH). Upon categorization, the performance and health outcomes of the calves were thoroughly assessed. The results revealed no significant disparities among the treatment groups regarding nutrient intake and skeletal growth. Initial and final body weights, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency had no observable differences. However, substantial differences were evident in the incidence of diarrhea (HH vs. LH, HL vs. LL, and LH vs. LL), pneumonia occurrence (HH vs. LH), and the number of days with body temperatures higher than 39.4 °C were similar across all groups. Moreover, a significant variation was noted in the duration of diarrhea, with the LL group experiencing more days under medication than the other treatment groups. Pronounced variations in calf health, particularly regarding diarrhea and pneumonia, suggesting a potential association between oxidative stress and specific health outcomes in newborn Holstein calves.

COLOSTRUM; OXIDATIVE addition; OXIDATIVE stress; ANTIOXIDANTS; CHEMICAL inhibitors

Iran Agricultural Research, 2024, Vol 43, Issue 1, p1

1013-9885

Academic Journal

10.22099/iar.2024.50026.1590