Effect of Soy Lecithin Supplementation in Beef Cows before Calving on Colostrum Composition and Serum Total Protein and Immunoglobulin G Concentrations in Calves
by
, and
Edyta Wojtas
1,*, 
Andrzej Zachwieja
1,
Eliza Piksa
2,
Anna E. Zielak-Steciwko
1,
Antoni Szumny
3
and
Bogdan Jarosz
3 1
Department of Cattle Breeding and Milk Production, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
2
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Management, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
3
Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2020, 10(5), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10050765
Submission received: 25 March 2020
/
Revised: 25 April 2020
/
Accepted: 26 April 2020
/
Published: 28 April 2020
(This article belongs to the Section Cattle)
Simple Summary
Until recently, fat supplements were considered merely as a source of energy for cows during transition. However, individual fatty acids included in fat supplements may clearly induce different production and metabolic responses, which in consequence change the nutritional value of bovine colostrum. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the type of fat additive to use in feed ration. This study aimed to determine an effect of soy lecithin supplementation on beef cow’s colostrum composition and selected blood parameters in their calves. Obtained results suggest that soy lecithin addition in cows before calving has a beneficial impact on colostrum composition. This concerns mainly an increase of linoleic acid in colostrum, which may influence IgG activity in calf serum. In turn, higher content of these components in colostrum may contribute to improve calves’ survival rate during the first weeks of their life.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of soy lecithin supplementation in beef cow’s nutrition on colostrum composition and serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total protein (STP) in calves. Twenty pregnant Charolaise cows were assigned to two groups. In the supplementation group (n = 10) during the last four weeks of pregnancy, soy lecithin was administrated in an amount of 20 g/cow/day. In both groups, basic composition (protein, fat, lactose, dry matter), somatic cell count (SCC), total bacteria count (TBC), IgG concentration, and fatty acids profile were determined in colostrum samples. Moreover, STP and IgG concentration were measured in calves’ blood samples on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days of life, mothered by supplementation and control cows. Animals fed with soy lecithin before calving produced colostrum with a higher (p = 0.049) level of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6). In addition, these results showed that soy lecithin supplementation has contributed to an increase (p = 0.029) of serum IgG in calves on the 14th day of life. The impact of such change in colostrum on IgG levels on calves serum and their half-life need further analysis.
Keywords:
nutrition; soy lecithin; calving; blood; passive transfer
