Effect of bovine colostrum administration on plasma protein profile, growth, and survival in Red kid.

This study evaluated the effect of colostrum from Azawak cows on plasma protein profile, 24
growth, and survival in Red kids from Niger. Forty (40) newborn kids were allocated to one 25
of two treatment-groups: control (free access to water and the mother) and colostrum (free 26
access to water and the mother, but with additional 50 mL of colostrum/animal/day of birth 27
and 25 mL/animal/day from the 2nd to 15th day of age). Blood samples were collected into 28
EDTA vacutainer tubes by jugular puncture at 10 and 30 days of age. Total protein was 29
quantified by the Biuret method. The agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine the 30
serum levels of albumin, -globulin, β1-globulin, β2-globulin, γ-globulin and the 31
albumin/globulin ratio. The animals from the colostrum group showed higher body weight 32
and average daily gain when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The average 33
concentration in protein at the both sampling times reached higher values in the colostrum 34
than in the control group. At D10, the colostrum group tended (P < 0.07) to show higher 35
levels of -globulin and had higher values (P < 0.05) for β1-globulin. At D30, total protein 36
and β2-globulins were higher in colostrum group. Colostrum from Azawak cows seems to 37
have positive effects on some plasma proteins levels and on growth rate in Red kids.