17 February 2024

Research update: Cow-calf bond development

Noeleen Brereton, Mark Mcgee, Colin Byrne and Bernadette Earley report on the effect of suckler cow breed type and parity on the development of the cow-calf bond post partum and its relationship with calf passive immunity.

Development of the cow-calf bond post partum and passive immunity of calves from spring-calving beef × beef (B×B) and beef × dairy (B×D) cows was determined using primiparous and multiparous (experiment 1), and primiparous and second parity (experiment 2) animals. In experiment 1, calves suckled colostrum (n=126), or were fed using an oesophageal tube (n=26), from their dam within one hour post partum. In experiment 2, calves (n=60) were artificially fed colostrum from their dam. Prior to feeding, colostrum was sampled for immunoglobulin G (IgG) analysis.

Assessing the bond

Cow-calf bond was assessed using CCTV. Calves were blood sampled at 48 hours post partum to determine IgG and total protein (TP) concentrations, and zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) units.

There was no difference in cow licking and calf standing and suckling between the groups, except in experiment 2; B×D calves had more attempts to suckle before success than B×B. In experiment 1, multiparous cows licked their calves sooner and for longer. Their calves took fewer attempts to stand, stood for 

longer, and had fewer attempts to suckle than primiparous. There was no parity effect on cow-calf behaviour in experiment 2.

Passive immunity

Colostrum IgG concentrations and measures of calf passive immunity did not differ between the genotypes. In experiment 1, colostrum IgG concentrations were greater in multiparous compared to primiparous cows and their calves had superior passive immunity. Passive immunity did not differ between suckled and artificially fed calves in experiment 1.

Cow genotype had little effect on cow- calf behaviours. Primiparous calves were less vigorous than those from multiparous cows. Colostrum IgG concentration and calf passive immunity measures were unaffected by genotype, but under natural suckling conditions calves from primiparous cows had lower passive immunity.

This article was first published in the Teagasc Beef Newsletter. Read the full February 2024 edition here.