[Bovine colostrum and protection of young animals]

An insufficient absorption of colostrum-immunoglobulins (Ig) by the newborn calf may result in morbidity and mortality at the early age of 1-2 weeks after birth. According to a study from California, such losses amounted to 20% in dairy herds. Ig-deficiencies were observed in almost 90% of all calves which died within the first week of their lives. The rapid identification of Ig-deficient calves, compensation by feeding colostrum from another dam or the application of relevant commercial products from the dairy industry are attempts to remedy such a situation. Feeding bovine colostrum to lambs, kids, foals and piglets, bovine Ig is readily absorbed into the blood-system of these animals. Vaccination of pregnant animals aims at the provocation of specific antibodies for the protection of the offspring. The application of the vaccine into the mammary gland at ablactation provokes specific IgA- and IgM-antibodies which are normally not channelled from the blood system + of the mother into the colostrum. The advantage of the vaccination of pregnant animals is the immediate provision of protecting antibodies for the newborn immuno-incompetent animal. Under the pressure of an increasing criticism against the routinely applied supplementary feeding of antibiotics, this kind of immunization may reach more and more of importance. Like non-specific Igs, specific colostrum-Igs are absorbed into the blood-system of newborns from other animal species.