[Assimilation of colostral immunoglobulins by calves]

The utilization of colostral immunoglobulins was followed up in calves as dependent on the age of dams, the technology of raising and feeding, the season of calving, and the time of the first intake of colostrum after birth. The experiments were carried out with a total of 66 calves. Highest values of blood serum gammaglobulins were found at the 24th hour following birth. No essential differences were established in the utilization of immunoglobulins in dependence on the season. The delay in the first intake of colostrum after the sixth hour following birth led to lower absorption of the colostral immunoglobulins. Calves that were born by heifers remained with hypogammaglobulinemia over the entire period of investigation.