An epidemiological study of gammaglobulin levels in newborn calves

Abstract

The effect of various factors on serum gammaglobulin concentration in newborn dairy calves was studied in 181 calves on six commercial farms. The refractometer test for monitoring colostrum management was found to be a reliable, rapid and practical method up to 6 days after birth. The three factors, time of first colostrum feeding, quantity of first colostrum intake and gammaglobulin concentration in first colostrum, explained 19.9% of the variation in serum gammaglobulin concentration. Time of milking, time of first colostrum intake and gammaglobulin concentration in first colostrum explained 21.0% of the variation in serum gammaglobulin concentration. Calves from first lactation cows showed lower serum gammaglobulin concentration than calves of older cows.