A study of the immunological status of neonatal calves reared under different farm management systems, using the lens refractometer

Gregory Jimos, Elizabeth (1989) A study of the immunological status of neonatal calves reared under different farm management systems, using the lens refractometer. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

A study was carried out on 193 calves from three cattle farms which practiced different types of farm management system. The farms were the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) Beef Farm which reared mainly the local Kedah - Kelantan (KK) beef cattle and UPM Dairy farm which reared mostly the exotic crossbreds dairy cattle such as Friesian and Jersey crosses. The smallholder Dairy Farms reared mostly the local dairy breed of cattle such as Local Indian Dairy (LID). The UPM Beef Farm practiced on extensive type of management system in which the calves were allowed to suckle their dams at will until they were weaned at 7 to 8 months old.The UPM Dairy Farm practiced a semi -,intensive type of management system and the calves were separated immediately from their dams after birth and kept in an individual pen where they were bottle - fed colostrum and milk. The smallholder dairy farms practiced either the semi - intensive or extensive type of management system in which the newly born calves were allowed to suckle their dam at will for 24 to 48 hours after birth after which they were only separated for a while from the dam when the dams were let out to graze. After that they were allowed to suckle their dams again. The calves sampled were preferably within one week of age. The calves serum immunoglobulin levels were analysed indirectly through measurement of total serum protein concentration using the lens refractometer. The results showed that in 1984 the total serum protein (TSP= 7.01 ± 1.09 gm%) of UPM Beef Calves was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the total serum protein (TSP= 5.8 ±. 2.07 gm %) of UPM Dairy calves, but in 1988 there was no significant difference between the total serum protein of the UPM beef calves (TSP= 6.35 ±.1.15 gm%) and the UPM dairy calves (TSP= 7.07 ± 1.70 gm %). In 1988, the total serum protein concentrations of the UPM beef calves (TSP= 6.35 ± 1.15 gm%) and the UPM dairy calves (TSP= 7.07 ± 1.79 gm %) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) and (P<0.05) respectively than the total serum protein of the smallholder·dairy calves (TSP= 5.08 ±. 1.27 gm % ) . This result showed that the type of farm management system practiced particularly the management of calves immediately after birth like the time spent with the dam, time of first feeding of colostrum, method and duration of feediog of colostrum do have an indirect influence on the total serum protein concentration and which in turn would have an indirect influence on the immunoglobulin levels. The different breeds of cattle, example the imported dairy breed like Friesian and the local dairy breed like Local Indian Dairy (LID), also have influence qn the total serum protein concentration and which in turn have an indirect influence on the serum immunoglobulin levels in calves.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Faculty:	Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms. CHE WA ZAKARIA
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2026 08:49
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2026 08:49
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2916

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