Volume 55 (2005) Issue: 2005 No#1

The effect of clinoptilolite based mineral adsorber on concentrations of immunoglobulin G in the serum of newborn calves fed different amounts of colostrum

Author(s): Fratrić Natalija, Stojić V, Janković D, Šamanc H, Gvozdić D

Keywords:colostrum, newborn calves, immunoglobulins, IgG, clinoptilolite.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of added natural mineral adsorber zeolite (clinoptilolite) to the colostrum on the degree of absorption of colostral IgG in 60 Holstein newborn calves fed different amounts of colostrum during the first two days of life. Calves were divided in four groups: 1) experimental group I received 0.75L of colostrum with 5g/L of clinoptilolite in 12h intervals (0.75+); 2) experimental group II received 1.5L of colostrum with 5g/L of zeolites in 12h intervals (1.5+); 3) control group I received 0.75L of colostrum in 12h intervals (0.75-); 4) control group II received 1.5L of colostrum in 12h intervals (1.5-). In blood sera from experimental group I, concentrations of IgG were 15.79±6.53 g/l; 21.81±9.29 g/L and 20.30±8.64 g/L respectively 6, 24 and 48 hours after birth. IgG concentrations in the sera of experimental group II were 22.21±8.79; 35.20±8.43 and 30.51±9.86 respectively 6, 24 and 48 hours after birth. In the blood sera of the first control group concentrations of IgG were 9.89±4.97; 18.07±5.32 and 15.84±4.92 respectively 6, 24 and 48 hours after birth. IgG concentrations of the second control group were 14.53±7.19; 25.39±11.57 and 22.88±8.63 respectively 6, 24 and 48 hours after birth. The statistical significance of the difference in mean IgG concentrations between experimental group I and the first control group was high after 6 (p<0.05) hours after birth. In this groups, the difference was not statistically significant 24 and 48 hours after birth. The statistical significance of the difference in levels of IgG between the experimental group II and the second control group was high after 6 (p<0.001), 24 (p<0.01) and 48 (p<0.05) hours. It can be seen that the absorption rate of colostral IgG in calves from the experimental groups I and II was approximately 40% higher than in the respective control groups. The mean concentrations of IgG in the colostrum samples used to feed the calves were almost equal during the observed period. Agarose-gel electrophoresis of serum proteins 48 hours after birth showed in the gamma electrophoretic zone a more intesively colored fraction for the treated animals compared to the analogous Acta Veterinaria (Beograd), Vol. 55, No. 1, 11-21, 2005. fraction on the electrophoresogram of serum proteins in the control group. Imunoglobulin G concentrations in the sera of calves who received 0.75 l of colostrum with clinoptilolite were almost equal to imunoglobulin G concentrations in the sera of calves who received 1.5 l of colostrum at 6 hours after birth (this effect is present at 24 and 48 hours after birth). It can be seen that calves which received an insufficient amount of colostrum with clinoptilolite had the same concentrations of serum IgG compared to the calves which received the full ration of colostrum. The data from this investigation show that a concentration of 5 g/l of clinoptilolite based mineral adsorber in the colostrum leads to a significantly higher degree of absorption of colostral IgG in newborn calves.