Decreased colostral immunoglobulin absorption in calves with postnatal respiratory acidosis

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Abstract
Summary: The effect of postnatal acid-base status on the absorption of colostral immunoglobulins by calves was examined in 2 field studies. In study 1, blood pH at 2 and 4 hours after birth was related to serum IgG1 concentration 12 hours after colostrum feeding (P < 0.05). Decreased IgG1 absorption from colostrum was associated with respiratory, rather than metabolic, acidosis, because blood PCO2 at 2 and 4 hours after birth was negatively related to IgG1 absorption (P < 0.05), whereas serum bicarbonate concentration was not significantly related to IgG1 absorption. Acidosis was frequently observed in the 30 calves of study 1. At birth, all calves had venous PCO2 value ≥ 60 mm of Hg, 20 of the calves had blood pH < 7.20, and 8 of the calves had blood bicarbonate concentration < 24 mEq/L. Blood pH values were considerably improved by 4 hours after birth; only 7 calves had blood pH values < 7.20. Calves lacking risk factors for acidosis were examined in study 2, and blood pH values at 4 hours after birth ranged from 7.25 to 7.39. Blood pH was unrelated to IgG1 absorption in the calves of study 2. However, blood PCO2 was again found to be negatively related to colostral IgG1 absorption (P < 0.005). Results indicate that postnatal respiratory acidosis in calves can adversely affect colostral immunoglobulin absorption, despite adequate colostrum intake early in the absorptive period.

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