Abstract
The concentrations of various antimicrobial factors in the saliva and plasma of newborn calves with special reference to possible effects of a diet supplemented with different sugar alcohols were studied. Eighteen calves were assigned alternately at birth to three groups, each comprising six animals. All calves were fed a pooled colostrum diet for the first four days, thereafter whole milk plus milk replacer. Concentrates and hay were given ad libitum. The diets of the different groups were supplemented with the following test substrates: xylitol, polyol molasses or glucose(control). The daily doses of each substrate were progressively increased from 0.5 to 1.0 g/kg of live weight for the last four weeks. Plasma and saliva samples were taken from all calves before colostrum feeding (day 0) and on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 21 and 35 after birth. The following factors were determined quantitatively: lactoferrin (LF), lactoperoxidase (LP), lysozyme (LZM) and immunoglobulins IgG1, lgG2, IgM and IgA (only in plasma). Further determinations included weekly counts of total aerobic bacteria, aerobic haemolytic bacteria, coliforms, lactobacilli and clostridia in faeces. Salivary LF increased from the average 0 day level of 3.6—17.0 /µg/ml in the different groups to a maximum of 38.7—55.6 µg/ml within one week, and declining thereafter slowly in all groups. LF was not found in the saliva of all calves at birth but was consistently present later on. No LF was detected in plasma. Salivary LP increased from the average 0 day level of 56.3—86.6 /µg/ml in the different groups to a maximum of 228—296 /µg/ml within three weeks and declined markedly by day 35. LP was found in all saliva samples, but the plasma concentrations were very low and not always detectable. Salivary LZM was high at birth compared to the plasma level (average 0.8—2.1 /µg/ml vs. 0.3—0.5µg/ml in the different groups).
Highlights
The importance of colostrum feeding for the survival and health of the newborn calf is well established
The results suggest that, besides antibodies, LF, LZM and LP, which are present in maternal colostrum and in saliva of the newborn calf, may contribute considerably to the protection of the calf against pathogens during the first weeks of life
The protection provided by the colostrum is primarily attributable to antibodies which are absorbed from the calf’s intestine into circulation during the first 24—36 hours after birth, the absorption time depending on the class of immunoglobulin (Penhalecl al. 1973, Logan et al 1978, Stott and Menefee 1978, Stott et al 1979 a, 1979 b, Bush and Staley 1980)
Summary
The importance of colostrum feeding for the survival and health of the newborn calf is well established Their potential role in the protection of neonatal calves against enteric or systemic infections is as yet little explored, but their concentrations in colostrum have been the subject of recent studies (1980) showed that the LP system can be activated in vivo in the abomasum of the calf, and this may contribute to its resistance to infections. It appeared, worth investigating the occurrence of the above antimicrobial factors in the saliva and blood of newborn calves and the effect of colostrum feeding on their concentrations. The present study was carried out as part of a trial on the effects of supplementing the colostrum-based diet with different sugar alcohols
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