Determining Immunoglobulin Content of Bovine Colostrum and Factors Affecting the Outcome: A Review.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
confidence
Key findings
Review of indirect (colostrometer, refractometer) and direct immunoglobulin measurement methods in bovine colostrum and factors influencing immunoglobulin content; no clinical/biological endpoints reported.
View source on PubMed (PMID 34944362) ↗
- Sample size
- Not applicable (review)
- Population
- Bovine colostrum (review of measurement methods and factors affecting immunoglobulin content)
- Dosing
- Not applicable
- Duration
- Not applicable
- Route
- Not applicable
- Blinding
- not_reported
- Controls
- not_reported
- Drug class
- biological supplement
Full abstract
The immunoglobulin concentration in bovine colostrum should be measured to ensure feeding with sufficient immunoglobulins (≥50 mg immunoglobulin G mL-1). Adequate feeding prevents diseases, promotes development, and has a positive influence on the adult animal. Indirect and direct measurement methods are available for this purpose. Direct measurement methods cannot be easily used in practice; therefore, farmers use indirect methods such as a colostrometer and a refractometer. Many factors influence the immunoglobulin concentration of colostrum; some of them have already been intensively researched. In particular, lactation and temporal aspects play an essential role. Newer aspects such as dry period, seasonal influences, and genetics are gaining importance, but their impact on immunoglobulin content has not been sufficiently investigated. Developments are still needed, especially in data management. This review analyzes the outcome of different studies on the indirect and direct measurement methods and discusses different factors influencing the immunoglobulin concentration of bovine colostrum.