EQST405: Colostrum Evaluation and Management

immunoglobulins (antibodies)

Colostrum is rich in what?

IgG

Foals are born devoid of what?

sepsis

Risk of lack of passive transfer

Passive immunity

Term for transfer of immunoglobulins from colostrum from mare to foals

quality colostrum produced, enough colostrum produced, ingestion/timing of ingestion, & foal’s ability to absorb colostrum

4 factors of passive transfer

6-8 hours after birth

Most effecient colostrum absorption

24 hours after birth

When does the foal’s gut close & therefore stop absorbing colostrum?

2 hours

Foals should start ingesting colostrum within how many hours to maximize absorption?

1-1.5 liters

How much colostrum minimum does a foal require?

bottle

If a foal has a good suckle reflex, how can colostrum be administered?

NG tube

If a foal has no suckle reflex, how can colostrum be administered?

hourly; 1 pint

How long should foals go between feedings & how much colostrum should they get per feeding?

if mare leaked pre-foaling, if visual appearance questionable, & if banking colostrum for future use

3 reasons to evaluate colostrum

RID, refractometer, colostromer, & spectrophotometer (densimeter)

4 colostrum quality assesments

RID

gold standard colostrum quality assessment

optical density with total dissolved solids

Refractometer measures what?

Specific gravity

Colostrometer measures?

%T

Spectrophotometer (densimeter) measures what?

refractometer

colostrometer

multiparous mares with pre-foaling immunizations, no history of NI or early neonatal death, screened for NI antibodies

3 characteristics of a good donor mare for banked colostrum

1-2 years

How long can mare colostrum be frozen?

37C

Mare colostrum should be dethawed in what temperature water bath?