The impact of Ig G levels on routine clinical biochemistry parameters i

Summary: The minimisation of neonatal mortality is critical for the success of an animal management programme. The period between calving and weaning is the most crucial period in the animal's life. A major management tool that could be used to reduce health problems in calves is feeding with colostrum. Colostrum is rich in energy, protein and vitamins (especially vitamins A, D, E and B12). Most importantly, colostrum is essential for newborns, in that it contains high levels of immunoglobulins, which transfer passive immunity to the calf, and thereby, enable it to fight with infections. The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between serum Ig G levels and routine biochemical parameters in neonatal Holstein calves given colostrum. For this purpose, serum was extracted from blood samples collected from 79 calves within 24-48 hours of calving. The passive transfer status of the calves was determined by measuring the Ig G content of serum by ELISA. Based on their serum Ig G levels, the calves were divided into 3 groups (insufficient n=13; partial n=14; and normal passive transfer n=52). Serum ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, LDH activities and serum BUN, creatinine, albumin, total protein, total bilirubin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose levels were analysed. A statistically significant increase was determined in the serum GGT activity and total protein and urea levels of calves with normal passive immunity transfer by colostrum, compared to the other passive transfer groups (p0.05). Key words: Colostrum, Passive Transfer, Calf, Clinical Biochemistry Introduction The minimisation of neonat... ...Passive transfer of colostral immunglobulins in calves. J Vet Intern Med 14: 569-577 10. Willard MD, Tvedten H (2004): Small animal clinical diagnosis by laboratory methods. Saunders, MO, USA. 11. Wilson LK, Tyler JW, Besser TE, Parish SM, Gant R (1999): Prediction of Serum IgG1 concentration in beef calves based on age and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. J Vet Intern Med 13:123-125 12. Zanker IA, Hammon MH, Blum WJ (2001): Activities of ÃŽ ³-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate-aminotransferase in colostrum, milk and blood plasma of calves fed first colostrum at 0–2, 6–7,12–13 and 24–25h after birth. J Vet Med 48: 179-185 13. Zarilli A, Micera E, Lacarpia N, Lombardi P, Pero ME, Pelagalli A, Angelo D, Mattia M, Avallone L (2003): Evaluation of goat colostrum quality by determining enzyme activity levels. Livest Prod Sci 83: 317-320