The effect of colostrum source (goat vs. sheep) and timing of the first colostrum feeding (2h vs. 14h after birth) on body weight and immune status of artificially reared newborn lambs

Several factors can affect lamb body weight (BW) and immune status during the first days of life, including colostrum source and timing of the first colostrum feeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of colostrum source (goat or sheep) and timing of the first colostrum feeding (2 or 14h after birth) on lamb BW and immune status. In this study, 40 lambs were removed from their dams at birth and randomly assigned into 4 groups of 10 lambs each. Lambs were subsequently fed at 2 or 14h after birth with goat or sheep colostrum. Blood samples and BW recording were performed before feeding. Blood plasma was used to measure the immunoglobulin concentration (IgG and IgM), chitotriosidase activity, and complement system activity (total and alternative pathways). In general, no differences in any of the measured variables were observed among the 4 groups, indicating that neither colostrum source nor timing of the first colostrum feeding had an effect on these variables. These findings may improve management on lamb farms that raise animals under artificial conditions, because our results indicate that it is not necessary to feed colostrum to lambs immediately after birth and that goat colostrum may be used to feed newborn lambs

Effects of addition of somatic cells to caprine milk on cheese quality

Milk quality criteria and limits for somatic cell count (SCC) established in many countries make it difficult to maintain SCC of bulk tank goat milk below the threshold, due to non-infection factors linked to goat physiology. The aim of this study was to objectively verify the effects of SCC on fresh caprine milk cheese. Somatic cells were recovered from pooled healthy goat milk, and added to low SCC raw or pasteurised goat milk. Miniature cheeses were made and evaluated after 1 and 7 d. Somatic cells had a major effect on lipolysis, increasing free fatty acids regardless of whether milk was raw or pasteurised. The effect of somatic cells on proteolysis was specific for caseins and the effects were different if cheeses are made from raw or pasteurised milk. It is concluded that somatic cells themselves in caprine milk can directly affect some cheese parameters

Use of microseaweeds (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) as a probiotic in dairy goats feeding

Artículo publicadoTen Majorera dairy goats were divided in two groups in order to observe the effects of the Chlorella pyrenoidosaoral administration on the colostrum and milk quality and on the animals’ immune status. Treated animals received 5g/d of seaweed from 40 days before partum to 40 days after partum, and blood, colostrum and milk samples were obtained during the experimental period. No effects of the seaweed addition were observed on blood plasma IgG or Chitotriosidase activity, neither on colostrum/milk IgG, Chitotriosidase activity or fatty acid profile.Ye

The effect of milk source on body weight and immune status of lambs

Milk source is one of the several factors that can affect lamb body weight (BW) and immune status before weaning. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of milk source (natural rearing method, named NR group, vs. artificial rearing method using a commercial milk replacer, named MR group vs. artificial rearing method using whole powdered cow milk, named CM group) on the BW and immune status of lambs during the milk feeding and weaning period. In this study, 60 lambs were equally divided according to sex and then randomly divided in three groups (NR, MR and CM). Blood plasma was collected to measure the immunoglobulin concentration (IgG and IgM), the chitotriosidase activity and complement system activity, total complement activity (TCA) and alternative complement activity (ACA). Results showed that lambs reared with NR presented, in general, higher BW, IgG, IgM, TCA and ACA than animals reared with MR or CM at 3 and 5 days after birth (P<0.05). These differences, however, disappeared during weaning. At the end of weaning, animals from MR and CM groups showed higher BW than NR lambs (15.28, 16.89 and 17.66 kg in NR, MR and CM groups, respectively, P<0.05). In addition, MR and CM groups showed higher IgM concentrations than the NR group (1.05, 1.90 and 1.60 mg/mL in NR, MR and CM, respectively, P<0.05). Present findings may improve the management in sheep farms, reducing the expenses of the artificial rearing systems if the described alternative milk feeding source (whole powdered cow milk for human consumption) is selected for feeding lambs reared under an artificial rearing system. Accordingly, these results can be used for increasing the economic benefits of the sheep producers