The effect of mineral adsorbent in calf diet colostrum on the levels of serum immunoglobulin G, protein and glucose

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of added natural mineral adsorbent zeolite (clinoptylolite) on the degree of absorption of immunoglobulin G and on glucose and protein concentration in the blood of calves during the neonatal period. Sixty calves were randomly divided in to four groups (15 calves per group). The quality and timing of colostrum feeding was as follows: group I was fed only with 1.5 L of colostrum at 2nd, 12th, 24th and 36th hour after birth; group II was fed with 1.5 L of colostrum with the mineral adsorbent added at a 5% concentration in the same time intervals; group III was fed with 1.5 L of colostrum together with the mineral adsorbent added at a 5% concentration, but at 2nd and 12 hour after birth it was fed with the first colostrum, and 24 and 36 hours after birth it was fed with the second colostrum. Group IV of calves was fed the same way as the third one only without the addition of the mineral adsorbent. Mean serum concentration of IgG was 15.14±7.43; 22.22±8.15; 23.65±9.93; 20.81±4.19 g/L in groups I to IV respectively at 6h of age. IgG concentration in the sera of all groups were 29.10±15.25; 45.46±13.45; 50.72±21.57; 41.60±15.42 g/L respectively at 16h after birth. At 30 hours of age, concentration of IgG was 33.29±14.70; 47.05±12.38; 55.00±19.71; 51.59±13.82 g/L in groups I to IV respectively. IgG concentration in the sera of all groups were 29.82±12.69; 44.10±13.50; 51.88±20.14; 47.68±13.18 g/L respectively at 40 hours after birth. For the calves which were fed with the full colostrum without and with the addition of the mineral adsorbent (Group I and II) the statistical significance of the difference in the concentration of IgG was determined during all the tested intervals. Concentration of IgG in the sera of group II calves (fed colostrum with zeolite added) was approximately 30% higher than in the group I. The statistical significance of the difference in levels of IgG between group I and groups III an IV was determined during all tested intervals, also. Concentration of IgG in the sera of group III calves was 40% higher than in group I. Acta Veterinaria (Beograd), Vol. 57, No. 2-3, 169-180, 2007. Results suggest that calves should receive feedings of high quality colostrum with added mineral adsorbent in order to maximize colostral IgG absorption. Determining the proteinemia in the neonatal period of calves is a reliable indicator of the impact of the mineral adsorbent on the degree of absorption of colostral IgG. The concentration of glucose for all the tested groups increased significantly with th