Glycinin and (3-conglycinin, major globulins of soyabean meal (SBM), appear to induce digestive disturbances in the preruminant calf fed SBM milk replacers and are resistant to digestion (Sissons, 1982). Ruminating calves fed SBM raise systemic antibodies against soya proteins (Lallès et al, 1991) but the extent to which these proteins escape digestion is unknown and was studied in the present work.
Material and MethodsA concentrate ration containing SBM was fed to 6 calves between 7-20 wk of age. After being fed whole-milk, the calves were weaned from 7-10 wk of age. Digesta were collected through weaning (Lall6s and Poncet, 1990). Immunoreactive glycinin (glyc) and [3-conglycinin (pcong) were assayed in feeds and digesta by ELISA (Heppell et al, 1987) (Sissons, 1982). In conclusion, antigenic soya proteins escape ruminal digestion in the weaned calf. They are probably involved in the prolonged stimulation of the systemic immune system and related antibody production observed (Lallès et al, 1991 ).