Subsidised testing available for colostrum management

Fifteen CVS Farm vet practices in the UK are continuing to offer their farmers a subsidised bovine antibody test throughout 2025 to assess the effectiveness of farm colostrum management.

Associated data will be collected by CVS Farm from farms across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. They will investigate the prevalence of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in neonatal beef suckler calves under seven days of age – and the effect of associated risk factors.                              

It is typically thought that dairy calves are most at risk of failure of passive transfer (PT) of antibodies. However, on a third of British beef suckler herds, at least 20% of calves fail to receive adequate colostral antibodies.

Farms that regularly monitor the success of PT are known to have much better success rates, CVS explains, and correct colostrum delivery has proven long-term impacts on production. 

It is not just the initial few months of a calf’s life where it is key. Calves moved into rearing units with good PT scores grow 10% faster and use 46% less antibiotics over their lifetime. It can also be used to identify calves that are likely to need more nutritional support.

What does the testing include?

Blood samples will be taken from up to 15 calves under seven days of age from each farm and then analysed on farm or in the practice lab to give a quantitative measurement of IgG antibody levels. 

An investigation into the cause of the failure of passive transfer (FPT) will then be run for each individual farm, looking at multifactorial causes including nutrition, feed space, housing conditions and dystocia. 

Farm vets will also discuss the results of each farm’s tests with an aim to improve the level of PT in future calving seasons.

For farmers producing and rearing calves the routine monitoring of IgG status will identify higher risk individuals and enable management changes. 

This will: reduce the risk and incidence of neonatal disease, reduce time and labour treating sick calves, reduce antibiotic treatments, reduce disease related lifelong productivity impacts and support achievement of productivity targets. 

READ MORE: Bluetongue changes must speed up to protect sector
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson confirms bTB outbreak on his farm

Risk for suckler calves

Steven Carragher, quality improvement farm lead for CVS and senior veterinary surgeon at Alnorthumbria Vets, said: “We are continuing our research into FPT in calves for the second year, and investing another £10,000 CVS Research Award in this scheme to help our farmers. 

“Our data from the first year of research demonstrated that beef suckler calves are at risk of FPT, just as dairy calves are. 

“In this second year we plan to focus on neonatal beef suckler calves up to seven days of age to produce robust data for our clients across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. 

“We are looking into the prevalence of FPT in beef suckler calves and the effect of associated risk factors, for example, heifers versus multiparous cows, dystocia, twinning and nutrition. 

“Improving PT will have an impact on calf health, welfare and productivity. Additionally, there are One Health implications as we aim to reduce overall antibiotic use. We urge farmers to give us a call if they are interested in finding out more.”

Read more livestock news.