As calves have the peculiarity to be born without immunoglobulins (antibodies), they are particularly vulnerable to pathogens during their first days of life.

Immunity is only acquired 3 to 5 weeks after birth, therefore additional protection is needed in this transition phase. This extra protection is brought by the mother through her colostrum, which contains huge quantities of antibodies.

The quality of colostrum can be highly variable from one mother to another (depending on age, breed, condition, length of dry period, etc.), therefore it is important to systematically check its quality.

Colostrum contains huge quantities of antibodies, which are needed by the calf due to its lack of innate immunity

A “good” colostrum has a concentration of antibodies (or immunoglobulins G, IgG) greater than 75 g/l

Various tools are available to evaluate the quality of colostrum. They are all based on the strong correlation between colostrum density and antibody content.

The colostrometer is a simple and cheap tool that immediately gives an approximate value of the antibody concentration. It generally comprises a graduated column containing a densimeter.

To use it, just suck colostrum into the graduating column and look at the colour associated to the densimeter result:

Green if the concentration is greater than 100 g/l
Yellow between 50 and 100 g/l
Red below 50 g/l

The advantages of the colostrometer are its low price and its ease of use. 

Nevertheless, it has major disadvantages: 

it is very fragile and it gives results which vary according to the temperature of colostrum.

As a consequence, it is not the best method to assess colostrum quality.

The Brix-scale refractometer is used to measure the Brix value of a solution. Initially intended to indicate the sugar content of a solution, this scale has been adapted for on-farm use.

A refractometer offers significant advantages over a colostrometer:

• instrument accuracy is not affected by sample temperature,
• it can be used to assess total protein in calf serum and
• it is considerably more durable.

A Brix value of 22% is equivalent to 50 grams/litre of IgG, which is where the yellow (i.e. acceptable quality) zone begins on the colostrometer.

Access to the breeding area for any person (staff, advisers, technicians, veterinarians ...) must be done by a sanitary airlock.

It is recommended to display a "No Entry" or "Access prohibits persons outside the farm" sign to dissuade people from entering the farm.

The ideal option is to lock the door of the sanitary airlock with a code known only by the workers of the farm.

• Park your vehicle in the visitor parking and take some over boots
• Go directly to the sanitary airlock
• Ring the bell at the entrance or call the breeder (telephone number displayed at the entrance of the airlock)
• Follow the instructions to be followed which must be posted

Remove your outer shoes and/or over boots as soon as you enter the airlock. If wearing over boots to get from the vehicle to the airlock, remove the shoes at the same time as the over boots and leave them in the over boots

Observe the forward motion indicated in the airlock, in particular the physical separation between the professional area and the airlock and the breeding area of the airlock

La santé du veau est l’un des enjeux de santé majeur auquel doit faire face le vétérinaire rural, et plus particulièrement la gestion des entérites néonatales. Cette dernière s’articule autour de 4 piliers: le diagnostic, la prévention, la réhydratation orale et le traitement.

De part leur fréquence et leur sévérité, les entérites néonatales engendrent des pertes importantes en élevage bovins. Elles peuvent avoir une origine variée, liée à une contamination virale, bactérienne, parasitaire ou une insuffisance zootechnique (alimentation, conduite, …). Aussi le diagnostic est primordial pour permettre au praticien de conseiller la meilleure prise en charge.
Sur le plan préventif, la vaccination des mères est une solution qui a fait ses preuves, et qui s’intègre parfaitement dans la logique du plan Eco-antibio afin de réduire le recours aux antibiotiques. Malgré ce contexte, les taux de vaccination contre les agents d’ENN restent encore modestes autour de 18,5% d’après le SIMV (2019). Son développement est un enjeu fort pour la profession vétérinaire.
Sur le plan des soins, la réhydratation orale fait partie des premiers gestes à prodiguer au veau. Il s’agit de prendre en charge les signes cliniques liés à la déshydratation, la dénutrition et l’acidose sanguine. Le vétérinaire jouera un rôle de conseil dans le choix du soluté réhydratant le plus approprié. Dans les cas les plus sur graves, une réhydratation parentérale est néanmoins nécessaire et sera basée sur une estimation ou une mesure des besoins spécifiques du veau.
Enfin le traitement agit sur la cause de la pathologie. Une antibiothérapie responsable est recommandée dans les cas où des bactéries sont impliquées. Les traitement antiparasitaires, quand ils sont appropriés, doivent permettre à la fois le traitement et la mise en place de l’immunité.