Effect of bovine colostrum administration on plasma protein profile, growth, and survival in Red kid

This study evaluated the effect of colostrum from Azawak cows on plasma protein profile, growth, and survival in Red kids from Niger. Forty (40) newborn kids were allocated to one of two treatment-groups: control (free access to water and the mother) and colostrum (free access to water and the mother, but with additional 50 mL of colostrum/animal/day of birth and 25 mL/animal/day from the 2nd to 15th day of age). Blood samples were collected into EDTA vacutainer tubes by jugular puncture at 10 and 30 days of age. Total protein was quantified by the Biuret method. The agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine the serum levels of albumin, α-globulin, β1-globulin, β2-globulin, γ-globulin and the albumin/globulin ratio. The animals from the colostrum group showed higher body weight and average daily gain when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The average concentration in protein at the both sampling times reached higher values in the colostrum than in the control group. At D10, the colostrum group tended (P < 0.07) to show higher levels of α-globulin and had higher values (P < 0.05) for β1-globulin. At D30, total protein and β2-globulins were higher in colostrum group. Colostrum from Azawak cows seems to have positive effects on some plasma proteins levels and on growth rate in Red kids.