Factors affecting the serum immune globulin concentrations of newborn calves

Selman, Ian Edward (1969) Factors affecting the serum immune globulin concentrations of newborn calves. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The work described in this thesis is concerned with studies on the factors affecting the absorption of immune lactoglobulin by newborn calves. The work is divided into four parts as follows: Studies on Matural Sucking in Cattle During the First Eight Hours Post Partum. In this part, the behavior of thirty dams and their calves left together in a loose box for the first 48 hours post partum was examined. It was found that suckling did not necessarily occur within the eight hour observation period. Certain factors which delayed the time to first sucking were defined. A significant negative correlation was found between the time to first sucking and the 48-four serum immune globulin concentrations of the fifteen dairy calves in the series which suckled during the eight-hour observation period, thus suggesting that intestinal shutdown in calves is a progressive process initiated at birth. It was decided that the marked seasonal variation in mean serum immune globulin concentrations in dairy calves in the west of Scotland was due to the fact that calves do not, under the traditional form of calf management, get the opportunity to suckle their dams through the winter months. In short, this seasonal variation is managemental in origin. Part 2 Studies on calves allowed to suckle Their Dams at Fixed Times post Partum. Test weighing of thirty newborn calves allowed to suckle their own dams to satiation at fixed times post partum showed that relatively large amounts of colostrum were usually ingested. However, these high intakes did not necessarlly result in high serum immune globulin concentration. Calves separated from their dams between suckling were efficient at absorbing immune lactoglobulin than those muzzled and left with their dams. Part 3 Studies on the Absorptio of immune Lactoglobulin by Newborn Dairy Calves. An experimental approach was devised to rule out variations due to time of feeding, amount and immune lactoglobulin content of colostrum fed, method of feeding, environmental conditions and breed and birthweight of the experimental calves. Using this standardized approach on 120 newborn calves, it was found that within each group of tan calves, a constant uptake of immne lactoglobulin occurred, and no individual calf with a poor absorptive efficiency was found. It was found that: (a) Ayrshire calves were less efficient but more consistent absorbers of immune lactoglobulin than were Friesian-cross-Ayrshires; (b) low ambient temperatures did not depress the absorptive efficiency of calves; (c) corticosteroid therapy resulted in an increase in the absorptive efficiency of non-mothered calves; (d) a distinct and significant linear relationship existed between the immune lacto-globulin content of colostrum fed to calves and the subsequent 48-hour serum immune globulin concentrateions of those calves; and (e) dividing a colostrum meal into smaller feeds did not increase the amount of immune lactoglobulin absorbed from that colostrum. Moreover, the findings in parts 1 and 2, that a significant negative relationship occurred between the time of the first colostrum meal and the subsequent serum immune globulin concentration, and that mothering increased the globulin absorptive efficiency of newborn calves, were also confirmed under these more critical conditions. Part 4 Studies on Colostrum. Analysis of 100 samples of colostrum obtained from Ayrshire cows and heifers by a standard milking technique showed that the wide varlations in immune lactoglobulin concetrations were individual and not seasonal. The marked variations in colostral carotene and vitamin A levels was, however, found to be both individual and seasonal in origin. No relationship was found to exist between colostral vitamin A and immune lactoglobulin concentrations.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: W IM McIntyre
• Keywords: Animal sciences
• Date of Award: 1969
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1969-73886
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73886