Mammary immunoglobulin transfer rates following prepartum milking

Abstract

Colostrum formation is thought to occur slowly over an extended period (4wk) prepartum. Furthermore, colostrum formation is highly variable among cows in total volume, IgG concentration, and mass obtained at first postpartum milking. Recent work has suggested that a rapid transfer of IgG to secretions may occur if animals are milked prepartum. Our objective was to establish the concentration, mass, and mass transfer rates of IgG in multiparous Holstein cows (n=11, parity=3.6±1.1) milked prepartum (-74 to -1h) and again around 4h postpartum. Blood concentrations of IgG were very low (<1mg/mL) in 7 cows at prepartum milking and did not decline following prepartum milking. Cows showed variability in the capacity to recover total volume, IgG concentration, and IgG mass. Three groupings of cows were considered based on the time between the 2 milkings (prepartum + 4h postpartum): long-time (-74 to -54h, n=3), medium-time (-25 to -17h, n=4), and short-time (< -13h, n=4) groups. The average rates of transfer of these groups were 1.4±0.8, 3.0±1.3, and 25.1±15.8g/h, respectively. The data indicate that a longer time between prepartum and postpartum milking is not a main factor in IgG secretion transfer. Furthermore, because blood concentrations did not change after prepartum milking and the mass of blood plasma IgG was not sufficient to account for the mass occurring in postpartum colostrum, a source of IgG other than blood circulation appears to be present during colostrogenesis.

A Rapid Blood Test to Monitor the Immune Status Change of Dairy Cows and to Evaluate their Disease Risk during the Periparturient Period

“…The difference between pre-calving to calving, and between calving to post-calving, is statistically signi cant, as con rmed by the P values (< 0.0001, student T test). These data con rmed what has already been reported by other studies [12][13][14]. On the other hand, the level of IgG2 remained almost unchanged from pre-calving, to calving, and post calving.…”

“…The immune system of the dairy cow, in particular, undergoes numerous changes in order to help the cow successfully deliver and protect the cow from infectious challenges postpartum. One such change is the transfer of immunoglobulin G proteins, especially subclass IgG1, to colostrum, leading to a reduction of IgG1 in the maternal blood [12][13][14]. The transfer of IgG1 to colostrum and the feeding of newborn calves with colostrum provides the calves passive immune protection for their rst few weeks of life following their birth.…”

Colostrum transfer of neutralizing antibodies against lumpy skin disease virus from vaccinated cows to their calves

“…The absence of detectable serum NAbs in four cows, despite their presence in the colostrum, can be attributed to the transfer of immunoglobulins to the mammary gland during colostrogenesis. It is well known that selective transfer of IgG1 from blood to the mammary gland begins 3–4 weeks before parturition (Brandon, Watson, & Lascelles, ; Sordillo, Nickerson, Alkers, & Oliver, ), resulting in extremely low plasma concentrations of IgG1 at 24 hr prepartum (Baumrucker, Dechow, Macrina, Gross, & Bruckmaier, ). At the day of calving, only one cow out of 19 tested negative for anti‐LSDV NAbs in its colostrum.…”

Invited review: Metabolic challenges and adaptation during different functional stages of the mammary gland in dairy cows: Perspectives for sustainable milk production

“…Furthermore, significant amounts of colostrum could already be obtained during the few hours before parturition . Within a very narrow time frame in the periparturient period, quality and volume of mammary secretions could be replenished after milking once prepartum Baumrucker et al, 2016). This could ensure the neonatal supply of sufficient IgG in cases of dystocia and milk leakage before calving.…”