Associations between prepartum dam metabolism, colostrum, and heifer calf development

The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the relationships between prepartum body condition, metabolic status, dam milk variables, and colostrum yield and its immunological and nutritional components; (2) investigate the relationships between colostrum variables of dams and female offspring's growth and metabolism from birth to weaning, from weaning to calving, and during the first 100 DIM; and (3) evaluate the correlation between dam colostrum variables in dams and those of their offspring after their first calving. Data and colostrum samples originated from a previous experiment that was designed to evaluate the effect of voluntary waiting period on health of dams and female offspring. In the current study, Holstein-Friesian dairy dams (n = 62) that calved female offspring with different calving interval (CInt) were included. The available prepartum variables of those dams included BW, BCS, milk yield, DMI, and energy balance (EB), and blood metabolites were assessed before calving. After calving, colostrum variables were measured, including yield, Brix value, protein, growth factors, and antibodies. Body weight and blood metabolites of female offspring (n = 62) from those dams were monitored across 3 stages: calf from birth to weaning, heifer from weaning to calving, and lactating offspring during first 100 DIM, and colostrum variables after their first calving. To investigate relationships between prepartum dam condition, dam colostrum, and female offspring development from birth to weaning and until lactation, each dam variable or colostrum variable were included separately in a regression model, with fixed effects of dam's CInt, parity, time, and their 2-way interactions, repeated over time. Higher BCS before calving was related to lower lactoferrin concentration in colostrum. Greater prepartum EB was related to higher IgM concentration in colostrum, which was related to higher keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-IgM and IgG levels in offspring plasma from birth until lactation. Greater milk yield in the last week before dry-off was related to higher concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-І (IGF-І) and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) in dam colostrum. Higher concentrations of IGF-І and TGF-β2 in colostrum were related to higher plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations of calves from birth to weaning, as well as higher milk lactose content during lactation. The positive relationships between KLH-IgG titers in colostrum and offspring plasma remained consistent from birth until lactation. Additionally, higher colostrum yield in dams was associated with higher colostrum yield in female offspring. In conclusion, dairy dam DMI and EB were positively related to natural antibody levels in colostrum, which, in turn, were positively related to natural antibody levels in offspring plasma from birth to weaning and through lactation. Overall, colostrum, influenced by prepartum dam conditions, is related to offspring long-term immunity.