Brix Refractometry of Colostrum from Primiparous Dairy Cows and New-Born Calf Blood Serum in the Evaluation of Failure of Passive Transfer

• Published in: Acta veterinaria (Beograd) 2017-12, Vol.67 (4), p.508-524
• Main Authors: Stojić, Milica, Fratrić, Natalija, Kovačić, Marijana, Ilić, Vesna, Gvozdić, Dragan, Savić, Olivera, Đoković, Radojica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agarose gel protein electrophoresis; brix refractometer; colostrum IgG; failure of passive transfer; new-born calf sera IgG; Proteins; radial immunodiffusion
• ISSN: 1820-7448; 0567-8315; 1820-7448
• DOI: 10.1515/acve-2017-0041

Failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunoglobulins (IgG) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality of calves. In this study we evaluated the digital Brix refractometer usefulness for the assessment of FPT. A number of 16 colostrum samples from the first milking (2-3h post-partum) of Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers and 29 blood sera of 3-6 days old calves were analyzed with a digital Brix refractometer. Total proteins were determined by the biuret reaction. Colostral IgG were determined by radial immunodiffusion (RID), and colostral whey and blood serum γ globulin (composed almost entirely of IgG) were determined by agarose protein gel electrophoresis (APE) and densitometry. Colostral % Brix score was 25.5±3.4%. Concentrations of colostrum IgG and colostral whey γ globulin were 130±33 g/L and 100±24 g/L respectively. The concentration of total proteins in colostral whey was 134±30 g/L. The correlations between Brix values and the concentrations of IgG determined with RID and the concentrations of γ globulin determined with APE were positive and highly significant (P