Effects of Calf Age and Dam Age on Circulating BVDV II Antibody Levels Prior to Vaccination in Angus Weanling Calves

Newborn calves passively acquire antibodies from their dams via consumption of colostrum immediately after birth. Colostrum quality and quantity may differ by dam age affecting the amount of circulating maternally derived antibodies. The objective of this study was to evaluate if there are differences in calf titers of maternal antibodies based on age of dam and age of calf. This knowledge is important for determining vaccination strategies because passively acquired antibodies for bovine viral diarrhea virus I and II (BVDV) have been shown to block the ability of calves to develop their own specific immune response to BVDV