EFFECTS OF FEEDING COLOSTRUM, GLUCOSE OR WATER ON THE FIRST DAY OF LIFE ON PLASMA IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G CONCENTRATIONS AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSFERASE ACTIVITIES IN CALVES

Plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and gamma-glutamyltransfe rase (GGT) activities were measured in neonatal calves fed colostrum o n days 1 and 2 of life, then milk up to day 7 (group C), while groups G and W were fed glucose or water, respectively, on day 1, colostrum o n days 2 and 3 and milk up to day 7 of life. Glucose administration in group G on day 1 caused significantly more marked hyperglycaemias tha n in group C, while glucose concentrations in group W remained low. Ho wever, glucose concentrations on day 2 mere significantly higher in gr oup C than in groups G and W. Concentrations of IgG in group C signifi cantly increased on day 1 and decreased after day 2, while GGT activit y significantly increased after the first colostrum feeding only and d ecreased on day 2. Concentrations of IgG and GGT activity in groups G and W remained low on day 1 and increased on day 2. However, IgG remai ned significantly lower up to day 7 than in group C, while GGT reached the values of group C on day 2. Concentrations of IgG and activities of GGT on day 2 tended to increase less in group W than in group G. In conclusion, both plasma IgG concentration and GGT activity increased after colostrum intake, but only IgG remained elevated and thus inform ed on colostrum intake up to day 7. Intake of glucose relative to wate r did not significantly reduce the rise of IgG and GGT.