Apparent efficiency of immunoglobulin absorption in newborn calves orally treated with zeolite

Abstract

Sixty Holstein newborn calves, which were immediately after parturition separated from their dams and placed in individual pens, were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups (15 calves per group). All calves were bottle-fed twice a day during the first 48 hours after partus, with their mothers' colostrum in 12 hour intervals, starting two hours after partus, according to the following model: i) group 1 (G1) received 0.75 L of colostrum (C) per meal, with 20 mL of 25% zeolite (clinoptilolite) suspension in distilled water; ii) group 2 (G2) received 1.5L of C per meal, with 20 mL of 25% zeolite suspension in distilled water; iii) group 3 (G3) received 0.75 L of C per meal, and iv) group 4 (G4) received 1.5 L of C per meal. Blood serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations at 0h (before C ingestion) 6h, 24h and 48h after partus and colostrum IgG concentrations were determined using commercial sRID plates (INEP, Zemun, Serbia). Apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA%) was calculated for individual calves at 6h after partus. Calf blood serum IgG concentrations at all investigated time intervals in G1 were increased compared to G3, with a significant increase at 6h after partus (15±4:10±5 g/L, p<0.05). The same relationship was evident between G2 and G4, with significant mean IgG blood serum differences evident at 6, 24. and 48. hour after partus. Calf blood serum IgG concentration was significantly higher in G2 compared to all experimental groups at 6, 24 and 48h after partus. Apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA%) at 6h after partus was significantly higher in G1, compared to all other experimental groups.