Influence of age on profile of serum proteins in the calf

Abstract

The authors studied the course of serum proteins during the first week and the first month of life in the calf in order to obtain useful information for neonatal care. Eight Limousine calves, four males and four females, clinically healthy, were used. From all animals blood samples were collected from the external jugular vein from the day after the birth every day for one week and every five days for thirty days. Blood samples were taken at the same hour (09:00), and the serum concentrations of albumin, globulins (α1-globulins, α2-globulins, β- globulins, γ-globulins) and total proteins were determined by means of automated multiparametric agarose gel electrophoresis system. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni's test, was used to determine significant differences. Data analysis of variance showed a significant effect of days of life, with p < 0.05, only on albumin, α1-globulins and α2-globulins during the first month of life. These results confirm that despite the fact that newborns must adapt to various environmental factors after birth, including nutrition that can influence the serum protein profile during neonatal period, the evaluation of electrophoretic's parameters during the first months of life results useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal diseases

Evaluation of the Differences in the Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern in Precolostral Serum of Farm Animal Neonates

“…It has been stated in most animal species that the values of serum proteins at birth are low due to the ineffective transfer of immunoglobulins through the placenta and low values of albumin [21,22]. In the present study, no marked differences in the values of total proteins were observed in newborn ruminants and the values were comparable to those detected by Franklin et al [23] and Piccione et al [16] in calves, and by Chen et al [24] and Nagy et al [25] in small ruminants. On the other hand, the values recorded in neonatal piglets were significantly lower and about the half of values measured in newborn ruminants.…”

“…Most of the studies dealing with the fractionation of serum proteins in neonatal ruminants were oriented to the interpretation of dynamic changes of serum protein fraction in a short period after birth [16,18]. Precolostral serum samples were not standardly collected and possible species-related differences among newborns of farm animals were not yet described.…”

“…This method may also be of great importance in newborn animals to evaluate gamma globulin status and immunoglobulin transfer. Wide changes were obtained in the values of total serum proteins, as well as their fractions in the neonatal period and during the first months of life as newborns of various animal species [16][17][18][19]. However, the differences in the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins among neonates of different animal species have not been previously described.…”

Triglyceride and fatty acid composition of bovine colostrum and transition milk in pasture‐based dairy cows supplemented prepartum with inorganic selenium, organic selenium or rumen‐protected choline

“…Nutritional management before calving is necessary to prepare the cow for subsequent lactation and to prevent metabolic disorders (Cardoso et al 2020). Manipulating the composition of colostrum through dietary intervention and/or mineral supplementation is likely to alter lipid composition (Haug et al 2007) and provide additional immunity to the neonate (Piccione et al 2009).…”

Immunoglobulin G response and performance in Holstein calves supplemented with garlic powder and probiotics

“…Reducing exposure to pathogens, improving immunity, and applying chemotherapeutic agents are focus areas in calf and heifer management (Earley & Fallon, 1999). Calves have little or no immunity at birth, and colostrum is a crucial source of immunoglobulins for initiating innate defence systems (Lawrence & Pierce, 1983;Piccone et al, 2009). However, early establishment of innate immunity in confined dairy calf management systems is often associated with failure of availability of colostrum and a low rate of intestinal absorption of IgG (Godden, 2008;Piccone et al, 2009).…”