title: Effect of passive transfer status on preweaning growth performance in dairy goat kids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of passive transfer status (determined from measurements of serum IgG concentration at 24 hours after parturition [sIgG-24]) on preweaning growth performance in dairy goat kids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 healthy nursing dairy doe kids in a natural nonintensive breeding environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each kid, sIgG-24 was measured. Body weight was measured at birth and at the time of weaning 30 days (ie, 29 to 31 days) after birth; average daily gain from birth to day 30 and weight at day 30 were used as measures of preweaning growth performance. Regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between sIgG-24 and measures of preweaning growth performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean +/- SD sIgG-24 was 31.7 +/- 10.3 mg/mL. Mean body weights at birth and weaning were 4.105 +/- 0.981 kg (9.031 +/- 2.158 lb) and 9.310 +/- 2.554 kg (20.482 +/- 5.619 lb), respectively; average daily gain was 0.174 +/- 0.072 kg/d (0.383 +/- 0.158 lb/d). No significant association was detected between sIgG-24 and birth weight. However, sIgG-24 was significantly associated with average daily gain (R(2) = 0.48) and weight at day 30 (R(2) = 0.56). Each increase in sIgG-24 of 1 mg/mL was associated with an increase in average daily gain of 0.005 kg/d (0.011 lb/d) and an increase in weight at day 30 of 0.185 kg (0.407 lb).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that passive transfer status (determined as sIgG-24) was a significant source of variation in preweaning growth performance in dairy doe kids reared in this nonintensive breeding environment.
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, Viale Europa Campus Universitario "S. Venuta" Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Genesio
authors: G
authors: Massimini
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Mastellone
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Britti
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Lombardi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Avallone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G