Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Animal Science

Advisor/Mentor

Kegley, Elizabeth

Committee Member

Powell, Jeremy

Second Committee Member

Rogers, Lauren

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to examine passive transfer of immunoglobulins A (IgA) and G (IgG) to the calf in relation to dam’s fecal cortisol and lactoferrin. In July 2024, late-gestation, Angus crossbred heifers pregnant by artificial insemination (n = 30) were moved to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Stocker Unit and housed in 0.42-ha grass paddocks for each heifer. Calving began in mid-August. Heifers were observed routinely throughout the workday and then at 8 p.m., 12 a.m., and 6 a.m. After calving, the calf was allowed to stand and suckle once then dam sample collection occurred afterwards with the pair being moved to a chute. Blood and fecal samples were collected, colostrum was collected from the 4 quarters and composited, and the calf was weighed. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each calf at 48 h and 14 d (± 1), 28 d (± 1), and 90 d (± 8) of age. Serum and colostrum samples were used to determine IgA, IgG, and lactoferrin concentrations. Fecal samples were collected at calving to determine secretory IgA, lactoferrin, and cortisol concentrations. All data were analyzed using MIXED and CORR procedures of SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC) with calf as the subject, with statistical significance determined at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies declared at 0.05 < P ≤ 0.1. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were log transformed for data normalization. There was a moderate correlation between dam colostrum IgG and calf serum IgG at 48 h (r = 0.5819; P = 0.0007) and d 28 (r = 0.4302; P = 0.0177), but not at d 14 (r = 0.1118; P = 0.56) or d 90 (r = 0.0844; P = 0.68). Additionally, there were moderate correlations between dam colostrum IgA at parturition and calf serum IgA at 48 h (r = 0.4006; P = 0.0283) and d 14 (r = 0.4456; P = 0.0136), but there were no relationships reported at d 28 (r = 0.2280; P = 0.23) or d 90 (r = -0.1752; P = 0.38). There was a strong positive relationship between dam fecal cortisol metabolites and calf serum IgG at d 90 (r = 0.42; P = 0.0304), but calf serum IgA on d 14 only tended to have a slight positive relationship with dam fecal cortisol metabolites (r = 0.35; P = 0.0556). However, there were weak positive tendencies detected between immunoglobulin concentrations of dam serum and calf serum IgA on d 14 (r = 0.3059; P = 0.1002) and nothing significant found with calf serum IgG (P ≥ 0.1978). There were only tendencies between dam fecal and colostrum lactoferrin and calf immunoglobulin concentrations in this study (P ≥ 0.0852). To conclude, immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum and calf serum were moderately correlated with each other demonstrating passive transfer within the first month following parturition. At some timepoints, immunoglobulin concentrations in the calf were strongly correlated with fecal cortisol in the dam at parturition providing insight into the relationship between dam biomarkers and calf immunocompetence.

Keywords

Passive transfer; immunoglobulins; colostrum; lactoferrin; fecal cortisol

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