Effects of Diet and Time on Blood Serum Proteins in the Newborn Calf

Abstract

The effect of colostrum on serum protein constituents during the first seven and one-half hours after birth was studied in 11 calves removed from their dams immediately after birth and bled every half hour. Calves received pooled colostrum (0.7 kg) after the first bleeding and again five and one-half hours later. At Time Zero, a small amount of ~,-globulin (0.02 g/100 nil) was detected, indicating that calves do not obtain all their serum 3,-globulin by colostrum absorption. Serum :e-globulin increased linearly (P < 0.01) over the seven and one-half-hour period to 0.19 g/ 100 ml after feeding eolostrum. Serum albumin increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas serum protein, a-l. 2, and fl-globulin remained constant.