title: Effects of prepartum protein restriction in the beef cow on immunoglobin content in blood and colostral whey and subsequent immunoglobin absorption by the neonatal calf.
abstract: Protein intake of first-calf beef heifers was restricted during the last 100 days of gestation, and the effects on passive transfer of colostral immunoglobins from the cow to the neonatal calf were examined. There were no significant correlations between concentration of immunoglobins (IgM, IgG1 and IgG2) in the sera or colostrum of the cow and prenatal crude protein consumption (.52 to .98 kg crude protein/day). Absorption of certain colostral immunoglobins (IgG1, and IgG2) by the calf were positively correlated (P less than .01) at 12, 18, 24 and 36 hr after birth to the maternal crude protein consumption. Colostrum was collected from the first milkings of pluriparous dairy cows, and then freeze-dried, mixed and reconstituted to be equivalent to 1 liter of colostrum. Mean IgG1 concentrations for the high and low protein groups were 6.02 +/- .90 and .78 +/- .15 mg . ml-1 (P less than .01), respectively. No relationship (P greater than .05) was found between the concentration of IgM in calf sera and daily crude protein intake of the dam. These data indicate that there was a selective decrease in absorption of IgG1 and IgG2 in calves from heifers fed low protein prenatal diets.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins