Colostral immunoglobulin absorption linearly related to concentration for calves.
This experiment shows colostral immunoglobulin concentration is a major factor in the rate of immunoglobulin absorption and the amount of absorption when it is fed to newborn calves. First-milking colostrum was collected from two cows and blended with fresh whole milk in immunoglobulin concentrations ranging from 7.5 to 123.8 mg/ml for immunoglobulin G, .38 to 5.53 mg/ml for immunoglobulin A, and .46 to 11.19 mg/ml for immunoglobulin M. Six batches of colostrum were prepared separately with each having a different range of immunoglobulin concentration. Calves were separated from their dams at birth and fed either 1 or 2 liters of the prepared colostrum at the appropriate concentration. Feeding was repeated after 12 h. One-hundred and twenty Holstein-Friesian calves were fed in six blocks, a block for each freshly prepared colostrum, of 20 animals each. Blood samples were taken at prefeeding and at 12 and 24 h postpartum. The three isotypes in serum and colostrum were quantitated by single radial immunodiffusion procedure. Immunoglobulin G and A concentrations in serum of the calf at 24 h after feeding colostrum had a positive linear relationship with immunoglobulin G and A concentrations in the colostrum fed, whereas immunoglobulin M concentrations in the serum had a quadratic response. When compared on equal mass, the amount of colostrum fed, 1 or 2 liters, had less influence on immunoglobulin absorbed than did concentration.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D012044:Regression Analysis
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins