Lyophilized bovine colostrum as a source of immunoglobulins and insulin-like growth factor for newborn goat kids

The objective of this study was to evaluate lyophilized bovine colostrum as an alternative source of passive immunity and insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I) for goat kids, considering newborns consuming non-maternal colostrum. Twenty-nine male newborns received 5% of body weight of lyophilized bovine (LBC) or goat colostrum (GC), both with 55 mg/mL of IgG, at 0, 7 and 14 h of life. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h of life to determine serum IgG, total protein (TP), IGF-I and apparent efficiency of IgG absorption at 7, 14, 18 and 24 h (AEA7hr, AEA14hr, AEA18hr, AEAtotal, respectively). In LBC, the values of serum IgG at 14, 18, 24 and 48 h (13.1, 13.4, 14.1 and 14.6 mg/mL, respectively) were higher than the values at 0 and 7 h (0.04 and 6.9 mg/mL, respectively). In GC, the serum IgG at 18 h (9.3 mg/mL) was higher than the value at 7 h (5.5 mg/mL). AEA7hr and AEA14hr in LBC were the same (19.2 and 18.5%, respectively, P > 0.05) and the values of AEA18hr and AEAtotal, 9.3 and 9.5%, respectively, were equal and smaller than AEA7hr and AEA14hr. In GC, AEA7hr, 20.8%, was higher than AEA14hr, 16.1% (P < 0.05) and AEA18hr and AEAtotal, 9.2 and 8.0%, respectively, were equal and smaller than AEA7hr and AEA14hr. The serum TP and IGF-I were not affected by colostrum feeding. Considering the variables study in the present work, lyophilized bovine colostrum constitutes a promising alternative substitute to goat colostrum in newborn goat kids, since the supply of immunoglobulins and IGF-I was suitable for the kids.