Epidemiology of bovine colostrum production in New York Holstein herds: Prepartum nutrition and metabolic indicators

Colostrum yield and quality are influenced by prepartum nutrition and the metabolic status of the cow; however, data considering these associations on multiple dairy farms are limited. Our objective was to identify cow-level prepartum metabolic indicators, as well as farm-level nutritional strategies associated with colostrum yield and the indicator of colostrum quality, Brix %. A convenience sample of 19 New York Holstein dairies (median: 1,325 cows; range: 620 to 4,600 cows) were enrolled in this observational study. Records for individual colostrum yield and Brix % were collected by farm personnel between October 2019 and February 2021. Farms were visited 4 times, approximately 3 mo apart, to obtain feed samples of the prepartum diets, collect blood samples from 24 pre- and postpartum cows, respectively, and determine prepartum body condition score. Feed samples were submitted for analysis of chemical composition, and particle size was determined on-farm using a particle separator. Prepartum serum samples (n = 762) were analyzed for glucose and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. Whole blood from postpartum cows was analyzed for herd prevalence of hyperketonemia (proportion of samples with β-hydroxybutyrate ≥1.2 mmol/L). A cohort of primiparous (PP; n = 1,337) and multiparous (MPS; n = 3,059) cows calving ± 14 d of each farm visit were included in the statistical analysis. Animals calving in this period were assigned results for the close-up diet composition and herd prevalence of hyperketonemia collected from the respective farm visit. Greatest colostrum yield from PP and MPS cows was associated with moderate starch [18.6–22.5% of dry matter (DM)] and a moderate herd prevalence of hyperketonemia (10.1–15.0%). Greatest colostrum yield from MPS cows was associated with moderate crude protein (13.6–15.5% of DM) and a less severe negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD; >−8 mEq/100 g), whereas greatest colostrum yield from PP cows was associated with low crude protein (≤13.5% of DM). In addition, a moderate proportion of the diet with particle length ≥19 mm (15.3–19.1%) was associated with lowest colostrum yield from PP and MPS cows. Highest colostrum Brix % was associated with prepartum dietary factors of low neutral detergent fiber (≤39.0% of DM) and high proportion of the diet with particle length ≥19 mm (>19.1%). In addition, low starch (≤18.5% of DM) and low and moderate DCAD level (≥−15.9 mEq/100 g) were associated with greatest Brix % from PP cows, whereas moderate DCAD (−15.9 to −8.0 mEq/100 g) was associated with greatest Brix % from MPS cows. Prepartum serum nonesterified fatty acid concentration ≥290 µEq/L was associated with increased colostrum yield, but prepartum serum glucose concentration and body condition score were not associated with colostrum yield or Brix %. These data provide nutritional and metabolic variables to consider when troubleshooting colostrum production on farms.