Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:27:42.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of diet in late pregnancy on colostrum production and immunoglobulin absorption in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. V. O'Doherty  and
T. F. Crosby
J. V. O'Doherty
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Lyons Research Farm, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
T. F. Crosby
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Lyons Research Farm, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Get access

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-six twin-bearing ewes were given either formic acid (FA) treated grass silage or grass/ molassed sugar-beet pulp (MSBP) silage in order to investigate factors affecting colostrum yield and quality and the efficiency of immunoglobulin (IgG) absorption. The experiment commenced on day 91 of pregnancy and the diets consisted ofFA-treated silage (Tl), FA-treated silage + soya-bean meal (SB) (72), MSBP silage (T3), MSBP silage + SB (T4), FA-treated silage + MSBP (T5), FA-treated silage + MSBP + SB (T6) or FA-treated silage + 150 g/kg of a crude protein concentrate (T7). Soya-bean meal was offered only in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy aiming for a total crude protein intake of220 g per ewe per day. Blood samples were taken from lambs in order to measure serum Ig concentrations. Ewes were milked at 1 h,10h and 18 h post lambing. Daily metabolizable energy intakes of 6·8, 11·4, 9·6, 12·8, 10·5, 13·7 and 14·7 (s.e. 0·58) M] per ewe were recorded for Tl to T7 respectively over the last 3 weeks of pregnancy. Respective crude protein intakes of 72, 213, 110, 225, 109, 215 and 175 (s.e. 5·64) g per ewe per day were recorded for Tl to T7 over the last 3 weeks of pregnancy. The addition of protein increased colostrum yield at 1 h (P < 0·01), 10 h (P < 0·01) and 18 h (P < 0·01) post lambing and total yield of colostrum to 18 h (P < 0·001). There was no significant response (P > 0·05) in colostrum production during the first 18 h following protein supplementation when the basic diet was FA-treated silage. There was no difference (P > 0·05) in colostrum production during the first 18 h between ewes offered MSBP treated silage or MSBP supplemented silage. Ewes offered FA-treated silage produced less colostrum during the first 18 h compared with ewes offered either MSBP treated or supplemented silage (P < 0·05). The production of colostral IgG during the first 18 h after parturition was related to the amount of colostrum produced; the greater the colostrum production the greater the Ig production. There was a significant quadratic relationship between the total amount of IgG ingested per kg lamb birth weight during the first 18 h and lamb serum IgG at 24 h (R2 = 0·4005; P < 0·0001). Lamb serum Ig level increased linearly with increasing colostrum IgG consumption up to 15 g/kg lamb birth weight. Proportionately about 0·17 of the IgG ingested was present in the lamb's circulation at 24 h. Ewe protein supplementation pre-lambing increased the lamb's efficiency to absorb colostral IgG (P < 0·05) during the first 24 h. In conclusion, the data show positive relationships between feeding regimes, colostrum production and IgG transfer.

Keywords

colostrumewesIgGlambssilage
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 64 , Issue 1 , February 1997 , pp. 87 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1984. Official methods of analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA.Google Scholar
Blecha, F., Bull, R. C., Olson, D. C., Ross, R. H. and Curtis, S. 1981. Effects of pre-partum protein restriction in the beef cow on immunoglobulin content in blood and colostral whey and subsequent immunoglobulin absorption by the neonatal calf. Journal of Animal Science 53:1174–1180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyd, J. W. and Boyd, A. J. 1987. Computer model of the absorption and distribution of colostral immunoglobulins in the new-born calf. Research in Veterinary Science 43: 291–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brambell, F. W. R. 1970. The transmission of passive immunity from mother to young. In Frontiers of biology, vol. 18, p. 166. North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Brandon, M. R. and Lascelles, A. K. 1971. Relative efficiency of absorption of IgG1, IgG2, IgA and IgM in the new-born calf. Australian Journal of Experimental Biological and Medical Science 49:629–634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doney, J. M., Peart, J. N., Smith, W. F. and Louda, F. 1979. A consideration of the techniques for estimation of milk yield and a comparison of estimates obtained by two methods in relation to effect of breed, level of production and stage of lactation. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 92:123–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ducker, M. J. and Fraser, J. 1976. A note on the effect of time of uptake of colostrum on blood gamma-globulin levels, mortality and subsequent performance of housed lambs. Animal Production 22:411–414.Google Scholar
Fahey, J. L. and McKelvey, E. M. 1965. Quantitative determination of serum immunoglobulins in antibody agar plates. Journal of Immunology 94: 84–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferris, C. P. and Mayne, C. S. 1990. Effects of feeding silage and sugar beet pulp, separately, mixed or in an ensiled blend, upon milk production in British Friesian dairy cows. Animal Production 50:562–563 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Ganong, W. F. 1977. Review of medical physiology, 8th edition, p. 6. Lang Medical Publications, Los Altos.Google Scholar
Girard, J., Pintado, E. and Ferre, P. 1979. Fuel metabolism in the mammalian foetus. Annales de Biologie Animale, Biochimie, Biophysique 19 (1B): 181–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, P. E., Trevethan, P. and Shelton, J. N. 1973. Progesterone and oestrogen and the initiation of lactation in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology 59:177–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hovell, F. D. DeB, Ørskov, E. R., Kyle, D. J. and McLeod, N. A. 1987. Undernutrition in sheep. Nitrogen repletion by N-depleted sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 57: 77–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunter, A. G., Reneau, J. K. and Williams, J. B. 1977. Factors affecting immunoglobulin concentration in day-old lambs. Journal of Animal Science 45:1146–1151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khalaf, A. M., Doxey, D. L., Baxter, J. T., Black, W. J. M. and Fitzsimons, J. 1979. A note concerning the effects of ewe nutrition and colostrum deprivation on young lambs. Animal Production 29:411–413.Google Scholar
Kruse, V. 1970. Absorption of immunoglobulins from colostrum in new born calves. Animal Production 12: 627–638.Google Scholar
Logan, E. F. 1974. Colostral immunity to colibacillosis in the neonatal calf. British Veterinary Journal 130:405–412.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McEwan, A. D., Fisher, E. W., Selman, I. E. and Penhale, W. J. 1970. A turbidity test for the estimation of immune globulin levels in neonatal calf serum. Clinica Chimica Ada 27:155–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maher, P. 1995. The effects of forage type on ewe and lamb performance. M. Agr. Sc. thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Marier, J. R. and Boulet, M. 1956. Direct analysis of lactose in milk and serum. Journal of Dairy Science 42:1390–1395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellor, D. J. 1990. Meeting colostrum needs of new-born lambs. In Practice, November 1990, pp. 239–244.Google Scholar
Mellor, D. J. and Murray, L. 1985. Effects of maternal nutrition on udder development during late pregnancy and on colostrum production in Scottish Blackface ewes with twin lambs. Research in Veterinary Science 39: 230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mellor, D. J. and Murray, L. 1986. Making the most of colostrum at lambing. Veterinary Record 118: 351–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Doherty, J. V. 1994. Alternative methods of forage supplementation and their effects on ewe and lamb performance. Ph.D. thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Parker, R. J. and Nicol, A. M. 1990. The measurement of serum immunoglobulin concentration to estimate lamb colostrum intake. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 50: 275–278.Google Scholar
Pattinson, S., Davies, D. A. R. and Winter, A. C. 1991. Colostrum production by prolific ewes. Animal Production 52: 583 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Pattinson, S. E., Davies, D. A. R. and Winter, A. C. 1995. Changes in the secretion rate and production of colostrum by ewes over the first 24 h post partum. Animal Production 61: 63–68.Google Scholar
Robinson, J. J. 1983. Nutrition of the pregnant ewe. In Sheep production (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 111–131. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Robinson, J. J. 1985. Nutritional requirements of the pregnant and lactating ewe. In Genetics of reproduction in sheep (ed. Land, R. B., Robinson, D. W.), pp. 361–371. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, J. J. 1987. Energy and protein requirements of the ewe. In Recent developments in ruminant nutrition, 2 (ed. Haresign, W., Cole, D. J. A.), pp. 365–382. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Selman, I. E., McEwan, A. D. and Fisher, E. W. 1971. Studies on dairy calves allowed to suckle their dams at fixed times post partum. Research in Veterinary Science 12: 1–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheehan, W., Lawlor, M. J. and Bath, I. H. 1979. Silage intakes in relation to the energy requirements of ewes in late pregnancy. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 18: 97–103.Google Scholar
Shubber, A. H., Doxey, D. L., Black, W. J. M. and Fitzsimons, J. 1979a. Colostrum production by ewes and the amounts ingested by lambs. Research in Veterinary Science 27:280–282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shubber, A. H., Doxey, D. L., Black, W. J. M. and Fitzsimons, J. 1979b. Immunoglobulin levels in ewe colostrum and in lamb serum. Research in Veterinary Science 27: 283–285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, W. D., Dawson, A. McL., Wells, P. W. and Burrells, C. 1975. Immunoglobulin concentrations in ovine body fluids. Research in Veterinary Science 19:189–194.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1985. SAS user's guide, version 5.16. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar