Passive immunity and productive performance in heifer calves receiving colostrum from prepartum-vaccinated dairy cows

Abstract

Introduction. Passive immune transfer through timely colostrum intake is essential for the health and survival of neonatal calves and can be enhanced through prepartum vaccination of cows, as it increases antibody concentrations in colostrum. Objective. To evaluate the effect of prepartum maternal vaccination on passive immune transfer and productive performance of calves during the first eight weeks of life in Zarcero, Alajuela, Costa Rica, from February 2020 to May 2021. Materials and methods. Calves fed colostrum from cows vaccinated against enteric pathogens were compared with those fed colostrum from unvaccinated cows. Twenty-eight Holstein calves were randomly assigned to two treatments. Within the first two hours of life, each calf received 3.5 L of colostrum according to its assigned treatment, administered via an esophageal feeder. Subsequently, all calves received 4 L of milk replacer daily in two feedings and starter feed from the third day of life, initially offered at 20 g day⁻¹ and gradually increased until ad libitum availability. Feed intake, body weight, and withers height were recorded weekly. Passive immune transfer was assessed at 48 hours of age by measuring total serum protein (TSP) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations. Health status was monitored through fecal scoring according to the CalfTrack system. Results. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between treatments in feed intake, body weight, withers height, TSP, or IgG. Both groups achieved adequate levels of passive immune transfer. Descriptively, calves in the vaccinated group exhibited lower severity and duration of diarrheal episodes, with a lower occurrence of severe diarrhea. Conclusion. Maternal prepartum vaccination did not significantly affect the evaluated productive parameters or passive immunity transfer, although descriptive trends were observed in the intestinal health status of calves.