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The effects of mineral block ingredients when offered to ewes in late pregnancy on Immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption in their lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

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

Lambs are born hypoimmunocompetent as the placenta prevents the transfer of maternal immunity to the foetus of the ruminant. Colostrum is the source of imunoglobulins for the young lamb and any interference with the absorption of immunoglobulins from colostrum would have important consequences for lamb liveability in early life. Recent experiments at this institute found that when ewes had access to mineral blocks in late pregnancy the absorption of immunoglobulin (IgG) by their offspring was reduced (Keane 2001). This author also stated that the lamb was preprogrammed in-utero for lowered IgG absorption efficiency. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether it was the mineral or molasses component of the mineral block which caused the reduced IgG absorption by the lamb.

Type
Sheep Nutrition
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2003 , 2003 , pp. 197
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Fahey, J. L. and McKelvey, E. M. 1965. Quantitative determination of serum immunoglobulins in antibody agar plates. Journal of Immunology 94: 84–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keane, N. 2001. Some factors influencing early lamb performance and IgG absorption in March born lambs. M. Agr. Sc. Thesis, National University of Ireland, Dublin.Google Scholar
McEwan, A. D., Fisher, E. W., Selman, I. E. and Penhale, W. J. 1970. A turbidity test for the estimation of immune globulin levels in neonatal calf serum. Clinica Chimica Acta 27: 155–163.Google Scholar