Avaliação da qualidade do colostro e transferência de imunidade passiva em bezerros da raça Holandesa

Abstract

In addition to the basic care we must have with newborns, there is no doubt that the supply of colostrum is among the most important factors, conferring nutrients and essential substances against pathogens. The bovine placenta type does not allow the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus. This compromises their development, increasing morbidity and mortality rates, making it essential to administer a quality colostrum soon after the first hours of life, because in this initial phase, the capacity of absorption by the newborns is greater. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of colostrum and the transfer of passive immunity to newborn bovines of the Dutch breed. The work was carried out at the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA), São Bento do Una experimental station, where nine calves were born between october and december 2018, with a mean weight of 34 kg. Soluble solids present in the colostrum samples were analyzed by the BRIX refractometry method after the first postpartum milking. The concentration of total proteins in the plasma samples was also analyzed with the serum protein refractometer, in the period between 24 and 48 h after birth. The results demonstrated good to high quality colostrum, resulting in successful passive immunity transfer. However, the amount of colostrum supplied shortly after birth was the main determinant, so that the higher the ingested volume the higher the concentration of proteins in the blood and the better the passive immunity transfer.