Eletrophoretic profile of serum proteins of goat kids fed with bovine colostrum in natura and lyophilized

Bovine colostrum in natura or lyophilized was evaluated as an alternative source of passive immunity for goat kids. Twenty-five female newborn goat kids were randomly allotted into five treatments: goat colostrum A (GCA) or bovine colostrum A (BCA) with 45-55 mg/mL of IgG, lyophilized bovine colostrum (LBC) with 45-55 mg/mL of IgG, goat colostrum B (GCB) or bovine colostrum B (BCB) with 15-25 mg/mL. The animals received 5% of body weight of colostrum at 0, 12 and 24 h after birth, and then, cow milk twice a day and concentrate ad libitum until 60 days of age. Blood samples were collected at 0 to 60 days of age to determine total serum protein (TP) and serum protein fractions by electrophoresis. In the last experimental days, 50 and 60, the TP concentration for all groups were higher than at 0 h (P < 0.05) and differences in values after colostrum ingestion were not observed (P < 0.05). The LBC group (2.39 ± 0.09 g/dL) showed lower (P < 0.05) albumin concentration than GCA, GCB, BCA and BCB, 3.20 ± 0.09, 2.93 ± 0.09, 3.25 ± 0.09 and 3.07 ± 0.10 g/dL, respectively (P < 0.05), and from birth to five days of life, albumin values were lower (P < 0.05) than at 40 to 60 days of life. At birth, the globulin concentration, 1.87 ± 0.05 g/dL, was lower (P < 0.05) than at 10 to 60 days of life (P < 0.05). The LBC group (1.25 ± 0.04) showed lower (P < 0.05) albumin/globulin ratio than GCA, GCB, BCA and BCB (1.36 ± 0.04, 1.38 ± 0.04, 1.48 ± 0.04 and 1.44 ± 0.05, respectively) and, at birth (1.52 ± 0.05), the ratio was higher (P < 0.05) than 0.5 and 1 day of life. The LBC group (0.67 ± 0.04 g/dL) showed higher (P < 0.05) gamma globulin concentration than GCB and BCB (0.48 ± 0.04 and 0.50 ± 0.04 g/dL, respectively), and did not differ (P > 0.05) from GCA and BCA (0.62 ± 0.04 and 0.50 ± 0.04 g/dL, respectively). The lowest (P < 0.05) gamma globulin concentration was observed at birth, 0.24 ± 0.04 g/dL. The results indicate that bovine colostrum can be used as an alternative source of initial protection for newborn goat kids.