Abstract:
Calf immunity, growth and puberty are important factors affecting heifer productivity. The
first four weeks of age are critical for reducing calf morbidity and mortality. It is well documented
that colostrum is paramount to neonatal nutrition and passive immunity, however, adaptation to
extra-uterine life starts early during embryonic development. Therefore, successful calf rearing
strategies are underpinned by adequate maternal nutrition during gestation, and good colostrum
management. A deeper understanding of these interactions paves the way for developing strategies
to improve immune responses to environmental pathogens, optimal growth and timely attainment
of puberty in calves. The literature reviewed here shows that there are opportunities to enhance
the future performance of cattle paying attention to the interaction of nutrition and immunity at
each developmental stage. Therefore, the objective of this review is to give the reader an overview
of interactions between immunity, growth and puberty in dairy calves and highlight how these
influence future performances.
