Absorption and synthesis of immunoglobulins G in newborn calves

Newborn calves (n=19) got 4.5 liters of pooled colostrum within three feedings in the first 14 hours post natum (p.n.). The immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 concentrations in the colostrum pool were 54.9 mg/ml and 4.2 mg/ml. The precolostral serum IgG concentrations in calves were 0.15 mg/ml (IgG1; SD 0.24) and 0.06 mg/ml (IgG2; SD 0.14). The highest serum IgG levels p.n. were measured 12 hours after the first colostrum feeding (9.3 mg IgG1/ml(SD 4.0), 0.8 mg IgG1/ml(SD 1.0). Thereafter, the mean IgG1 level was reduced continuously to the significant lowest concentration of 4.9 mg/ml (SD 2.3) at day 28 p.n. and then increased continuously to the significant highest concentration of 9.0 mg/ml (SD 4.8) on day 77 p.n.. The mean concentration of IgG2 was lowest on day 11 p.n. (0.5 mg/ml; SD 0.4) and highest on day 77 p.n. (1.2 mg/ml; SD 0.6). In blood from 198 calves, housed in Germany and sampled between day 4 and 6 p.n., the IgG concentration averaged 4.9 mg/ml serum (SD 3.3). From 93 darns of these calves a sample of the first colostrum could be obtained showing a mean concentration of 22.0 mg IgG/ml (SD 11.0). IgG levels in the colostrum and in the serum showed a correlation of r=0.37. In Kenia IgG levels of three week old calves from two farms were measured. The calves were always with mother for the first 24 hours. The mean serum IgG concentrations of the calves were 22.5 mg IgG/ml (n=7, SD 6.8) and 15.2 mg IgG/ml (n=15; SD 6.3). Comparing to the serum IgG levels found in calves of our studies in Germany there were significant differences.