Individual Variation in the Composition of Colostrum and Absorption of Colostral Antibodies by the Precolostral Buffalo Calf

Abstract

The total protein and Ig content in the first colostrum was higher in buffalo cows than in dairy crossbred cows. Individual variation in Ig content of first colostrum may be responsible for differences in susceptibility of calves to infections. The decline in Ig content during subsequent milkings was faster in dairy crossbred cows. The major class was IgG in both species. Absorption of colostral proteins and Ig was 14.0 g (68%) and 4.6 g (75.4%), respectively, within 1 h of feeding colostrum to a 7-h-old female buffalo calf. Absorption was decreased to 2.1 and .83 g/h after the first feeding, suggesting that the intestinal absorption of macromolecules declined 1 h after the first feeding. Marginal placental transfer of maternal Ig also was demonstrated in buffalo. An albuminlike protein was predominant in blood plasma of the precolostral buffalo calf. This protein decreased, and IgG in blood plasma increased, after colostrum was fed, indicating that albuminlike protein may be involved in the transfer of maternal nutrients to the fetus.