Capability of Lambs To Absorb Immunoproteins from Freeze-Dried Bovine Colostrum

SUMMARY A study was conducted to determine the capability of lambs to absorb immunoglobulins from freeze-dried ( fd ) bovine colostrum and to determine if antibody activity was maintained in bovine colostrum which had been freeze-dried. Twenty-five lambs were allotted to 3 groups: group 1 lambs received ovine colostrum, group 2 lambs were given fd bovine colostrum, and group 3 lambs were deprived of colostrum. Results in electrophoretic studies indicated that lambs were capable of absorbing immunoglobulins from fd bovine colostrum. Results of indirect hemagglutination studies indicated that antibody activity to specific Escherichia coli antigens was maintained in fd bovine colostrum. The concentration of the immunoproteins in the serum of each group of lambs was dependent on the concentration in the colostrum fed to each group of lambs.