B vitamins and immunoglobulins: Nutritional strategies for cow and calf health

Targeted research priorities

Dairy cattle feed and nutrition
The aim of this project is to identify pre-calving feeding strategies that promote high B vitamin status in cows and calves.

Health and welfare of dairy cattle
The aim of this research is to assess how a cow’s B vitamin status influences her health and that of her calf via colostrum consumption.

Project summary

The transition period around calving is a critical one for dairy cows and their calves, marked by nutrition-related health problems. An inadequate pre-calving ration aggravates the negative energy balance at the start of lactation, favouring the development of metabolic diseases. In addition, calves are born without antibodies and depend on colostrum for immune protection.

The aim of this research project is to identify nutritional strategies on commercial farms that optimize colostrum quality and peripartum health in cows and calves. B vitamins, essential for metabolism and cell growth, are at the heart of the study. Immunoglobins are also being studied.

The researchers speculate that an adapted ration without B vitamin supplementation improves their content in colostrum, promoting calf health via a better epigenetic profile. Potential outcomes include nutritional recommendations to reduce health problems and economic losses on dairy farms.

Expected results

75 commercial dairy farms will be recruited for this project. The study aims to determine whether B vitamins in colostrum can be considered as bioactive compounds promoting calf growth and health. Correlations will be established between pre-calving ration, maternal B vitamin status, colostrum immunoglobulin concentration and calf epigenetic profile.

The results of this project will help develop tools for advisors and growers to determine feeding strategies that optimize both.

• Concentrations of B vitamins and immunoglobins in colostrum
• Mother and calf health
• Production performance

Guidelines will be established to recognize situations where B vitamin supplementation may be necessary prior to calving.

Main achievements

• Training a master’s student
• Organization of a one-day training session based on the results for producers participating in the study, agricultural advisors and invited guests.
• Training for college and university students
• Presentation of results at the Forum Techno and Novalait annual meeting
• Presentation of lectures and posters at national and international conferences (Dairy Cattle Symposium, Animal Nutrition Association of Canada and American Dairy Science Association conferences).
• Writing of three scientific articles
• Writing of an article for Le producteur de lait magazine