Day-1 Colostrum Feeding Shapes Lifelong Calf Health : A controllable window to program neonatal immunity

Abstract

Sissi Xu was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Sissi presented the research titled “Day-1 Colostrum Feeding Shapes Lifelong Calf Health.” A calf’s first day of life may determine its future health. Newborn calves are born with immature immune systems, making them highly vulnerable to infections such as diarrhea and pneumonia during their earliest hours. This research investigates how day-one colostrum feeding shapes early immune development in calves. By identifying early biological signals linked to stronger protection, this work aims to help farmers support calf health earlier, prevent disease before it begins, and reduce antibiotic use in livestock systems. Sissi Xu is completing a MSc in Applied Animal Biology in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems under the supervision of Dr. Leluo Guan. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.