Some observations on serum gammaglobulin concentrations in suckled beef calves

Gammaglobulin concentrations were measured in serum samples collected from 23 single-suckled beef calves immediately after birth and from 346 calves at 48 +/- 12 hours postpartum. Considerable variation in these levels appeared to be associated with age and breed of dam. There were also indications that they might be influenced markedly by herd management. These post-suckling gammaglobulin concentrations were of no value in predicting incidence or severity of undifferentiated neonatal diarrhea in the beef herd as a whole, or in the individual neonate.