Quality of colostrum in dairy and dual purpose cow breeds depending on the duration of calving cycle periods

Abstract

Correlation of quality of colostrum in dairy and dual-purpose cow breeds and duration of calving cycle periods has been examined. It was established that the highest content of immunoglobulins in colostrum of cows of the Bestuzhev and the Russian Black Pied breeds was noticed with the duration of a service period of up to 60 days, in colostrum of cows of the Holstein and the Ayrshire breeds – 61-80 days. Furthermore, the content of immunoglobulins raises by 26.0% for the Bestuzhev breed, by 27.7% for the Russian Black Pied breed, by 16.7% for the Holstein breed and by 17.5% for the Ayrshire breed with the extension of gestation period from 270 to 290 days. A trend towards reduction of content of immunoglobulins with the extension of lactation period was noted. The highest content of immunoglobulins was in colostrum of cows of the Bestuzhev breed (102.7 g/l) that excelled their herdmates of the Russian Black Pied breed by 51.5%, of the Holstein breed - by 71.7% and of the Ayrshire breed – by 11.9%. Colostrum of cows without dry period was considered unsuitable for feeding calves, regardless of the breed. The highest content of immunoglobulins in the first yield colostrum was typical of cows of the Russian Black Pied, the Holstein and the Ayrshire breeds with the duration of the dry period of 61-70 days, and for the Bestuzhev breed – with the duration of the dry period of 51-60 days.