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The effects of a mineral supplementation when offered to pregnant ewes for the final 6, 4 or 2 weeks pre-partum on Immunoglobulin (IgG) absorption in their offspring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

M. Guinan ,
G. Harrison ,
P. O. Brophy ,
J. J. Callan ,
P. J. Quinn ,
T. M. Boland ,
P. Nowakowski  and
T. F. Crosby
M. Guinan
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
G. Harrison
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
P. O. Brophy
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
J. J. Callan
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
P. J. Quinn
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
T. M. Boland
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
P. Nowakowski
Affiliation:
Department of Sheep Breeding, Kozuchowaska 7, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland E-mail: frank.crosby@ucd.ie
T. F. Crosby
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College Dublin, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Extract

The placenta prevents the transfer of maternal immunity to the foetus and consequently lambs are born hypoimmunocompetent. The IgG content in colostrum and its absorption into the blood stream has important consequences for lamb liveability in early life. Recent experiments carried out at this institute found that when ewes had access to a mineral block or the mineral component of this block in the form of powdered minerals in late pregnancy, the absorption of IgG by their offspring was reduced (Boland et al., 2003). Keane (2001) stated that it would appear that the lamb was pre-programmed in-utero for lowered IgG efficiency and that the problem lay with the lamb rather than to any altered characteristics of the colostrum. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the period of time necessary for high levels of mineral supplementation to the ewe to affect a reduction in IgG values in the progeny.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2004 , 2004 , pp. 91
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2004

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References

Boland, T.M. 2003. The effects of mineral block ingredients when offered to ewes in late pregnancy on Immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption in their lambs. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, York, p 197.Google Scholar
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