title: Relationships of total protein, specific gravity, viscosity, refractive index and latex agglutination to immunoglobulin G concentration in mare colostrum.
abstract: A colostrum sample was collected within 24 h after foaling from 27 mares and from 10 other mares a milk sample was collected several weeks post partum. Immunoglobulin G concentrations were determined quantitatively by radial immunodiffusion and semi-quantitatively using a commercial latex agglutination test. Total protein, specific gravity, viscosity and refractive index were determined and their relationships to the immunoglobulin G concentration analysed. All parameters correlated with the immunoglobulin G concentration. The latex agglutination test divided the colostrum samples into three groups with different means for immunoglobulin G and total protein concentrations. Specific gravity and the latex agglutination test were found to be the methods best suited for on-farm evaluation of colostrum quality.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Gynaecology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Waelchli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hässig
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eggenberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nussbaumer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003126:Colostrum / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012031:Refractometry; D013046:Specific Gravity; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins