Short communication: Addition of sodium bicarbonate to maternal colostrum: Effects on immunoglobulin g absorption and hematocrit in neonatal calves

Twenty-six Holstein bull calves born from primiparous and multiparous cows without dystocia were assigned in a randomized complete block design to 1 of 2 treatments: pooled maternal colostrum (PMC) or PMC supplemented with 30 g of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Calves were fed PMC from 9 different batches containing (mean ± SD) 82.05 ± 8.45 g/L of IgG. Calves were fed 2.68 L of PMC at birth (referred to as 0 h) and 1.32 L of PMC 6 h later. The total amount of IgG fed was 329.89 ± 34.56 g. Calves were fed 2 L of milk replacer at 24, 36, and 48 h postpartum. The addition of NaHCO3 had no effect on IgG absorption. Serum IgG concentrations at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postpartum were not different between calves supplemented with or without 30 g of NaHCO3 to colostrum. Area under the curve, apparent efficiency of absorption, and hematocrit were not affected by the NaHCO3 treatment.