The use of bovine colostrum as a source of immunoglobulin (Ig) for lambs<BR><BR>Utilisation du colostrum bovin comme source d'immunoglobuline (Ig) pour les agneaux

Abstract

A study on the use of bovine colostrum as an alternative source of immunoglobulin for lambs was carried out at the University of Ghana's Agricultural Research Centre (Legon). The study involved a total of fifty-six lambs. Thirty-three of them were bottle-fed with frozenthawed bovine colostrum while the rest (twenty-three) were allowed to suckle their dams and served as the control. The mean serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations of both groups of lambs were determined at 6hr intervals during the first 48 hrs of life, using a pocket refractometer. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in Ig levels between the bovine colostrum-fed lambs (21.01 zst units) and the normally suckled lambs (18.26 zst units). The peak serum Ig level for the bovine colostrum-fed lambs occurred at 12hrs postpartum as against 24hrs for the normally suckled lambs. The growth patterns for both groups of lambs were similar. It was concluded that bovine colostrum could be used as an effective alternative source of Ig for lambs. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 54(2) 2006: 118-123