[The immunoprotein profile of calves raised under extremely healthy conditions]

The immuno-protein profile of calves was studied. On the basis of the results obtained under extreme health conditions, attention is drawn to the incidence of subnormal values of total immunoglobulins in 74%, and hypoproteinaemia in 24%, of the calves in the first week after birth. Failure to respect the principles of colostral nutrition is also indicated by the finding of a marked immunodeficient state in 49% of the calves during the first three days of their life; 19% of the calves showed threshold values of total immunoglobulins. During the first 72 hours of life, a physiological concentration of total immunoglobulins was recorded only in 30% of the studied calves. In this group, hypoproteinaemia was recorded only in calves whose total immunoglobulin concentration was 2.66 +/- 1.45 U ZST, on the average. Within the studied age categories of calves, the lowest simultaneous levels of immunoglobulins and total protein were recorded in the third and fourth week of life. It was even in the seventh to eighth week post partum that up to 31% of the calves showed subnormal values of total immunoglobulins. Immunopoiesis as such depended on the level of colostral immunity.