INVESTIGATION ON THE DELAY INTERVAL BETWE EN BIRTH OF LAMBS AND THEIR1ST INGESTION OF BOVINE COLOSTRUM

Extent and duration of the permeability of the small intestine of newb orn lambs for intact proteins from cow's colostrum was analyzed in fiv e groups of animals. Cow's colostrum in quantities of 200 ml/kg birth weight, was offered in 3-hr intervals for 24 hrs, beginning either imm ediately after birth or after fasting, for 12 and 24 hrs respectively. In two groups each either 5% glucose solution or saline was offered t o the fasting animals. The following results were obtained: 1. All lam bs fed immediately after birth drank eagerly. The intake in all fastin g groups dropped between 12 and 24 hrs of the feeding period. 2. While the duration of the permeation of the small intestine for intact prot eins remained unaffected by the various regimens, fasting with or with out supplementation decreased the maxima. 3. The decrease in protein p ermeation was class-depending as demonstrated by the lower levels of b ovine IgM in the sera of fasting lambs. 4. The permeability of the sma ll intestine for proteins was substantially reduced by 5% glucose. The difference between fasting lambs or lambs with saline substitution wa s minimal. 5. All lambs fed immediately after birth survived. The loss es in the other groups amounted to 29% after 12 hrs of starving, 33% a fter 24 hrs of starving, 30% after starving with glucose supplementati on and 50% after saline solution.6. The surviving animals showed no di fferences in weight gain.