Effects of Oral Iron and Commercial Colostrum Supplementation on Clinical Health and Haematological Parameters in Neonatal Chianina Beef Calves: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

The neonatal period is a critical stage for calf health and development, and nutritional interventions have been proposed to support neonatal adaptation and reduce disease risk. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in extensively reared beef breeds remains limited. This pilot study evaluated the effects of oral iron supplementation and administration of a commercial colostrum supplement on clinical health, haematological profile, passive transfer status, and growth performance in neonatal Chianina beef calves. Eighteen calves were randomly allocated to three groups: a control group, an oral iron supplementation group, and a commercial colostrum supplementation group. Clinical examinations and blood sampling were performed 48 h, 14 days, and 30 days after birth. Longitudinal data were analysed using linear mixed models and generalised estimating equations. No statistically significant overall treatment group effect was observed on the corrected Clinical Total Score (p = 0.123), although exploratory comparisons at the final assessment (30 days of age) showed lower scores in calves receiving the commercial colostrum supplement than in Control calves (nominal p = 0.008) and iron-supplemented calves (nominal p = 0.039). No significant differences were observed in growth performance, serum iron concentration, haematological variables, or the incidence of neonatal calf diarrhoea and bovine respiratory disease. Most haematological variables changed over time, reflecting normal neonatal physiological adaptation. These preliminary findings suggest a possible difference in clinical condition at 30 days of age in calves receiving commercial colostrum supplementation, but do not demonstrate an overall treatment effect during the study period. A single oral administration of the iron-containing supplement did not provide measurable clinical, haematological, or growth-related benefits under the conditions investigated.