ACQUISITION OF PASSIVE-IMMUNITY IN DOMESTIC UNGULATES

The ungulates possess an epteriochondrial placenta, which separates th e maternal and foetal blood systems and thus reduces the permeability of the placenta to small molecules. Thus, in these species, the colost ral imminoglobulins are the main source of protection factors which ai d survival in the first days of life. This review deals with several a spects of passive immunity in ungulate neonates: the type and the orig in of colostral immunoglobulins and factors which influence their prod uction in the mother and their absorption form the gastrointestinal tr act of the neonate. Recommendations for farmes to enhance natural post natal immunity and recent technological advances in the production of immunoglobulin preparations are discussed.