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Effects of ewe's colostrum and various substitutes on the serum immunoglobulin concentration, gut closure process and growth rate of lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. B. Al-Jawad
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
J. L. Lees
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Abstract

Ewe's colostrum, dried milk, ewe's blood, cow's blood and cow's serum, given to a total of 56 newborn lambs, had various effects on serum immunoglobulin concentrations, the gut closure process and early growth rate.

Cow's colostrum and serum proved to be good alternative sources of immunoglobulin for rearing lambs. Cow's and ewe's blood had adverse effects on immunoglobulin absorption, speeding up the closure process. This process was only slightly affected when lambs were fed immunoglobulin-free powdered milk.

Lambs survived with concentrations of serum immunoglobulin as low as 5 zinc sulphate turbidity units. Similar and satisfactory mean early growth rates were observed for lambs given ovine and bovine colostrum and bovine serum, whilst those given ovine and bovine whole blood had relatively low early weight gains. Those receiving powdered milk substitute followed by ewe colostrum at 8 h post partumshowed intermediate rates of growth.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1985

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