Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern in Goat Kids after Colostrum Intake during the First Week of Life

Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern in Goat Kids after Colostrum Intake during the First Week of Life

The first week after birth is characterized by intense metabolic changes typical for the adaptive period influenced also by the intake of colostrum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the serum protein electrophoretic pattern in goat kids during the first week of life. Nine clinically healthy goat kids of the white shorthaired breed were used in this study. The first blood sample collection was performed before the colostrum intake and then at 1, 2 and 7 days of age. Serum was analyzed for total protein concentrations, and the relative and absolute values of protein fractions - albumin, alpha1-(α1), alpha2-(α2), beta-(β), and gamma-(γ) globulins. The concentrations of total proteins increased significantly 1 day after colostrum intake (P<0.001), and then were relatively stable. In the absolute concentrations of albumin, a significant decrease of values was observed 1 day after colostrum intake (P<0.01), with a subsequent gradual increase till the end of the first week. For the absolute concentrations of α1-globulins, a significant increase of values was found 1 day after the intake of colostrums (P<0.001). The absolute values of α2- and β- globulins increased significantly from birth till the end of the monitored period (P<0.001). The concentrations of γ-globulins increased significantly 1 day after colostrum intake (P<0.001), and then decreased gradually till the end of the first week. Presented results suggest that the changes in serum protein electrophoretic profile in newborn goat kids may indicate not only important neonatal diseases, but they may also be associated with physiological adaptation processes. Shift in the concentrations of albumin and globulin fractions suggests that the age is an important factor, which should be taken into consideration when interpreting serum proteins.