Colostrum Management on German Dairy Farms

Calf rearing is the fundament of any dairy farm. In consequence, colostrum management is an important part of calf rearing because calves are passively immunized through colostrum uptake. Therefore, colostrum management is of particular importance for healthy calves and long lasting performances of cows and should be optimized. However, high mortality and morbidity rates of 3.0–15.0% in German calf rearing indicate that colostrum management has enormous potential for improvement. The objective of this thesis was to identify potential strategies for enhancement and to underscore the significance of optimized colostrum management on German dairy farms. The thesis offers a comprehensive account of colostrum management and its implications for calf development. <br> Study 1 looked at indirect and direct methods of measuring colostrum quality. Direct methods are not easily applicable in practice, so farmers have to resort to indirect methods such as colostrometers and refractometers. Indirect methods allow conclusions about the concentration of Ig in colostrum, which can be used to assess the quality of the colostrum. In addition, the parameters influencing the Ig concentration were investigated in Study 1. Many parameters can be considered and positively influenced by the farmer. In particular, yield, parity and temporal aspects serve as key factors. Newer aspects such as dry period, seasonal influences and genetics are becoming increasingly important, but their impact on Ig concentrations has not been sufficiently investigated. Furthermore, there is a particular need for research in the area of data management. <br> To gain an overview of colostrum management practices on German dairy farms, a 33 question online survey focusing on frozen colostrum storage was developed (Study 2). The survey highlighted areas where a more targeted knowledge transfer can improve colostrum management. In addition, there appeared to be a lack of “Standard Operating Procedures” for employees on the practical implementation of colostrum management. Particular attention should be paid to the regular determination and documentation of Ig concentrations. The added value of stored colostrum should also be emphasized, especially for smaller farms. <br> Based on the two studies, the three areas of work organization, knowledge transfer, and data management were placed in the context of improved colostrum management. The objective was to identify the most important future tasks and implementation challenges to achieve adequate colostrum management of German dairy farms.