Transfer of antibodies against viruses of calf diarrhea from cows to their offspring via colostrum.

Abstract

Serum and lacteal secretion of cows and neonatal calf serum were examined for antibody titers against bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, and bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease virus and immunoglobulin concentrations after inoculation with inactivated viruses during pregnancy. The booster effect was slight. Correlation was observed between maternal serum, lacteal and neonatal serum antibody titers as well as duration of the antibody titer in lacteal secretion. The biological half lives of antibody titers in calf serum were about 22.0 days for rotavirus and 20.8 days for coronavirus.