Early Inflammation Disorder in Neonatal Calves

and Implications In the present study, 30 Holstein calves were acquired at birth and were randomly subjected to one of six treatments. One treatment group was colostrum deprived (CD) and five other treatment groups were fed colostrum replacer (CR). Of the five CR groups, one group was not further supplemented (CR), one received vitamin A (CR-A), one received vitamin D (CR-D), one received vitamin E (CR-E), and one received vitamins A, D, and E (CR-ADE). Additionally, all calves were inoculated with Mycobacterium avium, subsp. paratuberculosis on d 1 and d 3 of age. One d after birth, CD calves exhibited lower IgG1, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A concentrations in serum compared with the other five CR groups. These findings point to an endogenous early inflammation disorder in calves that are not fed colostrum. Introduction The passive benefits of colostrum intake by neonatal calves are well described and are primarily attributed to acquisition of exogenous immunoglobulin, but recently interest has been generated regarding effects of bioactive compounds in colostrum on endogenous functions. Endogenous immune capabilities are especially important during early life when microbial colonization of the intestine takes place. Colostrum contains fat soluble vitamins that have been implicated in intestinal barrier and immune response functions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of colostrum supplementation and additional supplemental vitamins A, D, and E on intestinal health in neonatal calves.