Colostral Immunoglobulin Absorption Linearly Related to Concentration for Calves

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Abstract
This experiment shows colostral Ig concentration is a major factor in the rate of Ig absorption and the amount of absorption when it is fed to newborn calves. First-milking colostrum was collected from 2 cows and blended with fresh whole milk in Ig concentrations ranging from 7.5 to 123.8 mg/ml for IgG, 0.38 to 5.53 mg/ml for IgA and 0.46 to 11.19 mg/ml for IgM. Six batches of colostrum were prepared separately with each having a different range of Ig concentration. Calves were separated from their dams at birth and fed either 1 or 2 l of the prepared colostrum at the appropriate concentration. Feeding was repeated after 12 h. Holstein-Friesian calves (120) were fed in 6 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 3 isotypes in serum and colostrum wre quantitated by single radial immunodiffusion procedure. IgG and IgA concentrations in serum of the calf at 24 h after feeding colostrum had a positive linear relationship with IgG and IgA concentrations in the colostrum fed; IgM concentrations in the serum had a quadratic response. When compared on equal mass, the amount of colostrum fed, 1 or 2 l, had less influence on Ig absorbed than did concentration.