THE INFLUENCE OF COLOSTRUM INGESTION ON CESSATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN UPTAKE IN CALF INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS.

Cessation of immunoglobulin uptake by bovine neonate intestinal epithelial cells does not occur by four hours following ingestion of either one or two liters of colostrum. Human immunoglobulin tracer was fed to newborn HolsteinFriesan calves at 1, 2 and 4 hour intervals following inges­ tion of colostrum at birth. Serum levels of human Immuno­ globulin G were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a monoclonal antibody. Human Immunoglobulin G was detected in the serum of all animals by 8 hours after birth. There was no significant difference in human Immunoglobulin G values between animals that were fed 1 and 2 liters of colostrum. There was a significant linear relationship between bovine and human immunoglobulin levels for treatment groups in which animals were fed human immunoglobulin at 1 and 2 hours. The relationship was not significant in animals given the human antibody at 4 hours.