A holistic approach to colostrum management: Enrichment of maternal colostrum combined with extended colostrum feeding as control measures for bovine rotavirus‐associated neonatal calf diarrhoea

Abstract Bovine rotavirus A (BRV‐A) genotype G6P11 was identified as a cause of neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) in a 600‐cow autumn block calving herd. Dry cows were vaccinated prior to calving. Calf faecal sample ( n = 6) microbiology from calves 8‒21 days of age identified BRV‐A. Colostrum sample analysis for protective antibodies to BRV‐A demonstrated optimal vaccine efficacy. Sixteen clinically healthy 1‒4‐day‐old calves were blood sampled for serum total protein analysis, revealing sub‐optimal concentrations less than 5.2 g/dL in seven of 16 calves (43.8%). A holistic approach to changes in colostrum management protocols included a reduction in calves’ time to first feed post calving, improvement in colostrum immunoglobulin G concentration to 30% Brix by enrichment with whole bovine colostrum powder, and implementation of extended colostrum feeding using whole bovine colostrum powder to supplement the commercial milk replacer ration. These changes effectively reduced the incidence of NCD in this herd from 100% ( n = 430/430) measured over 10 weeks of calving to 8.6% ( n = 6/70) measured over the last 4 weeks of calving, with mortality in calves less than 21 days of age reduced from 6% to 3% in the last 4 weeks of the calving block.