Influence of bovine colostrum thermisation on immunoglobulin intestinal transfer in newborn lambs

Abstract

Experiment was carried out to test the influence of mixed bovine colostrum thermisation on immunoglobulin intestinal absorption in newborn lambs. Thirty-three newborn lambs were alloted to three treatments: free maternal suckling or three meals of pooled bovine colostrum (30/kg BW), given 0.5, 3.5 and 6.5 h after birth or three meals of the same but previously heated bovine colostrum. Gentle thermal treatment (62°C for 1 min.) was used in order to preserve immunoglobulin biological activity. Immunoglobulin G levels determined in blood samples collected 3.5,6.5,9.5 and 12.5 h after birth were satisfactory but lower in animals receiving bovine colostrum. Thermisation resulted in decreased microbial contamination but did not affect Ig plasmatic levels. In the absence of pathogenic germs, heating colostrum is not necessary to enable an efficient intestinal transfer of immunoglobulin.

Acquisition of passive immunity in domestic ungulates

“…Inoculation of the digestive tract with intestinal bacteria can limit absorption (James et al, 1981). A similar type of result was observed by Bush et al (1982), who showed that pasteurisation of colostrum slightly improved absorption, however this was not confirmed by Grongnet et al (1996). Pasteurisation should be encouraged for other reasons and Li- Chan et al (1995) showed that careful treatment of Ig results in sufficient thermo-resistance.…”

“…Balfour and Comline (1962) extracted a small molecular weight protein from colostrum which increased the absorption of Ig. However, Grongnet et al (1996) using a very similar protocol were not able to repeat the finding.…”

“…Therefore, it would be necessary to semi-purify the colostrum, however, this leads to the production of a colostrum for which the Ig are absorbed less efficiently. After this type of treatment, which may eliminate the factor thought to help absorption by Balfour and Comline (1962), the absorption of the Ig can be very low (Grongnet et al, 1986(Grongnet et al, , 1996. This was not the case for Nousiainen et al (1994) and more recently Grongnet et al (unpublished results) who showed that absorption and blood Ig levels were sufficient to give protection.…”

“…Many factors are without or even have a negative effect on absorption : glucose (Klobasa et al, 1994), lactose (Werhan et al, 1981), duodenal juice (James and Polan, 1978), saliva (Balbierz et al, 1976), L-methionine and L-leucine (Smith and Pierce, 1967) and a macro-peptide of casein (Grongnet et al, 1996). Kaeckenbeeck et al (1967) have shown in the calf that the administration of protein does not alter the subsequent absorption of colostral Ig.…”

“…It is possible to use successfully bovine colostrum or its derivatives in other ungulates : in the lamb (Al-Jawad and Lees, 1985;Grongnet et al, 1996), in the foal (Lavoie et al, 1989 a,b;Watanabe et al, 1993) and in the piglet (Frenyo, 1987). In the kid it is probably also possible but the results have not been published.…”