title: Serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves fed two colostrum replacement products.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of 2 commercially available colostrum replacement products on serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  84 Holstein bull calves from a single dairy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Calves were randomly assigned to be given 4 quarts of colostrum (group 1; n = 21), 2 packages of a colostrum replacement product (product A; group 2; 21), 1 package of a different colostrum replacement product (product B; group 3; 21), or 2 packages of product B (group 4; 21). Treatments were given within 3 hours after birth, and blood samples were collected 24 hours later and submitted for determination of serum total protein and IgG concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 calves had significantly higher serum total protein and IgG concentrations than did calves in the other 3 groups. However, the percentage of calves with adequate passive transfer (ie, serum IgG concentration > 1,000 mg/dL) was not significantly different among groups 1 (90%), 3 (81%), and 4 (95%). In contrast, only 10% of calves in group 2 had adequate passive transfer. It was predicted that calves fed product B that had serum total protein concentrations > 5.2 g/dL would have serum IgG concentrations > 1,000 mg/dL at least 90% of the time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that product B could be considered as an alternative to colostrum in dairy calves, but product A failed to routinely provide adequate serum IgG concentrations when fed according to label directions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
authors.forename: Derek M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Geof W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Truman R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Sanner
authors.forename: Gonzalo V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Busso
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G