INFLUENCE OF COLOSTRUM QUALITY ON THE HEALTH STATUS AND GROWTH OF CALVES

摘要

Thirty six calves were monitored from birth through to the age of 24 weeks. The Ig content ot-their dam's colostrum was measured via a colostrometer and indirectly by measuring the enzyme activity of the gamma-glutamyl trans-ferase (GGT) or the concentration of total-serum protein (TSP) in the calves' sera during their first week of life. The concentration of albumin (Alb) and leukocyte count (WBC) in calf serum were also measured. The health status and chest girths of the calves were also regularlyrecorded. The mean chest girths of the ill and healthy calves did not differ significantly. The Ig concentration in the colostrum had a statistically significant influence on the TSP and GGT but not on the Alb and WBC. The interval between birth and thefirst intake of colostrum had a statistically significant influence on GGT and WBC, but not on the TSP and Alb. In the calves that fell ill the only statistically significant influence their illness had was on WBC. The correlation between the Ig concentration in colostrum and TSP and GGT in a calf's serum was highly significant, as was the correlation between the activity of GGT and the TSP and WBC.