CHANGES IN SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULINS CONCENTRATION OF NEWBORN CALVES

The changes in the serum immunoglobulins concentration were investigated in newborn heifers from birth to 7 days of age. The mothers of calves were determined serum and colostrum immunoglobulins (Ig) concentration. The research was carried out at the Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU), in dairy farm 'Ligotnes' of the Research and Study Farm 'Vecauce', in a loose housing system with 530 cows, of which 430 were milking cows. The cows during the dry period were kept tethered in the farm. Eighteen heifers and their dams (Latvian Brown and Holstein breeds) which calved from 30 November 2010 to 23 January 2011 were used in this study. The calves' serum total immunoglobulin concentration at birth was 9.0 +/- 1.31 mg dL(-1) (or 0.09 mg mL(-1),), and after 24 hours (h) it increased significantly to 4.3 mg dL(-1) (or 0.043 mg mL(-1)), p < 0.05. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in calf serum after birth was 6.8 +/- 1.50 mg dL(-1) (or 0.068 mg mL(-1)), and after 1 day and after 7 days it did not change significantly. The average Ig serum concentration in cows was 12.6 +/- 1.36 mg dL(-1) (or 0.126 mg mL(-1)), and Ig concentration in colostrum was 18.5 +/- 1.68 mg mL(-1). On average, close correlation (r = 0.56) was found between cow blood serum IgM and colostrum IgM. Correlation between cow and calf IgG serum concentration proved to be weak (r = 0.49).