CORRELATION BETWEEN COLOSTRUM COMPOSITION, BODY WEIGHT UPON CALVING, AND DAY 30 IN LAMBS

Abstract

Fifteen sheep with single and twin gestation were selected, from each group, which were maintained on natural pasture. On the 140th day of gestation, the sheep were placed in individual pens, after prior establishment (by palpation) of gestation (single or twin). The colostrum was collected one hour post-partum then at 12, 24, and 36 h post-partum to determine the yield of lamb raising and the composition of the colostrum. Maternal blood was drawn after placing the sheep in the pens, then blood was drawn from the lambs to determine plasma glucose and IgG. From the recently born lamb, the blood was drawn upon calving and 12, 24, 36, and 120 h post-partum to determine the blood sugar and IgG. Lambs’ daily average weight gain was evaluated from calving up to 60 days of life. There were no differences in colostrum production and fat components; however, protein and lactose had higher values in the single gestation than in twin gestation (p <0.05 for both). Females with single gestation had glycemia higher than those with twin gestation 12 h post-partum (102.2 ± 32.8 vs. 73.4 ± 29.9 mg/dl, p <0.05). IgG colostrum content was similar upon calving, but higher in the sheep with single gestation at 12 and 24 h, reaching similar values at 36 hours (4.7 ± 9.7 and 5.8 ± 7.7 mg/ml in the case of single and twin gestation). IgG in recently born lambs was higher in lambs from single gestation than in lambs from twin gestation at least up to 48 h of life. Body weight upon calving has always been superior in lambs from single gestation than in lambs from twin gestation from calving to 30 days of life.