Differentially expressed whey proteins of donkey and bovine colostrum revealed with a label-free proteomics approach

This study aimed to analyze and compare the differentially expressed whey proteins(DEWPs)of donkey and bovine colostrum using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomics.A total of 620 and 696 whey proteins were characterized in the donkey and bovine colostrum,respectively,including 383 common whey proteins.Among these common proteins,80 were identified as DEWPs,including 21 upregulated and 59 downregulated DEWPs in donkey colostrum compared to bovine colostrum.Gene Ontology analysis revealed that these DEWPs were mainly related to cellular components,such as extracellular exosome,plasma membrane,and mitochondrion;biological processes,such as oxidation-reduction process,cell-cell adhesion,and small guanosine triphosphate(GTP)ase-mediated signal transduction;and molecular functions,such as GTP binding,GTPase activity,and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor(NSF)attachment protein receptor activity.Metabolic pathway analysis suggested that the majority of the DEWPs were associated with soluble NSF factor attachment protein receptor interactions in vesicular transport,fatty acid biosynthesis,and estrogen signaling pathways.Our results provide a vital insight into the differences between donkey and bovine colostrum,along with important information on the significant components as nutritional and functional factors to be included in infant formula based on multiple milk sources.

Management of HIV in Children Using a Bovine Colostrum-Based Food Product— An Observational Field Study

Aim: Malnutrition increases the severity and mortality of HIV infection. Therefore, this field study was started and aimed to provide a major cohort of HIV-infected children with the colostrum-based food product ColoPlus (ColoPlus AB, Malm&ouml;, Sweden) and to investigate the effects of ColoPlus on the nutritional status and immunological capacity of children including tolerability and safety of the product. Methods: In this major field program comprising 850 malnourished HIV positive children, 50 grams of ColoPlus was administrated for 4 weeks as the first meal in selected health facilities in Northern Uganda. Forty-eight of these children (8 months - 14 years of age) were recruited into a descriptive prospective study and were followed for 12 weeks. At the start (week 0) and at weeks 4, 8 and 12, CD4+ cell counts, serum albumin and hemoglobin were analyzed. The remaining 802 patients were observed to register safety and tolerability of ColoPlus. Results: There was a general improvement of wellbeing of the children with increased body weight and decreased fatigue. In the descriptive study of the 48 children, there was a significant rise of the CD4+ values at week 4 (+15.4% ± 2.8%, p = 0.0001) compared to week 0, and at week 8 (+39.1% ± 3.9%, p < 0.0001), but a return towards the 0-values at week 12 (+2.1%, ±2.8%, NS). Hemoglobin and serum albumin showed an almost similar trend. ColoPlus was well tolerated by all the 850 children and no side effects or adverse events were seen. Conclusion: These results show that addition of a colostrum-based food product to the daily diet is beneficial in HIV-positive malnourished children. An improvement in nutritional status as well as in immune capacity was seen. These effects were prolonged and remained at least 4 weeks after cessation of ColoPlus administration.

Metabolomics characterization of colostrum in three sow breeds and its influences on piglets' survival and litter growth rates

Background: Colostrum is the first secretion produced by mammary glands during the hours immediately preceding and succeeding parturition. This secretion differs from milk and represents an essential vehicle of passive immunity,prebiotic compounds and growth factors involved in intestinal development. Most of the literature concerning colostrum composition refers mainly to human and cow; and little is known about pig colostrum metabolome and how it varies between pig breeds and different farrowing parity. Thus, the aim of the present research is to provide new information about pig colostrum composition and the associations between metabolites, the sows' breed and the survival and growth rates of their litters.Results: Colostrum samples were gathered from 58 parturitions of sows belonging to three different breeds chosen for their importance in Italian heavy pig production: 31 Large White, 15 Landrace and 12 Duroc respectively. The defatted and ultrafiltered colostrum samples were analysed using1 H–NMR spectroscopy. Principal Components Analysis(PCA) was assessed on the obtained spectra. In addition, using a Stepwise Regression and a Linear Regression analyses the metabolites named after the signals assignment were tested for their associations with piglets' performances.Twenty-five metabolites were identified, comprehending monosaccharides, disaccharides(such as lactose), organic acids(lactate, citrate, acetate and formate), nitrogenous organic acids(such as creatine) and other compounds,including nucleotides. PCA results evidence a clustering due to breed and season effects. Lactose was the main compound determining the assignment of the samples into different clusters according to the sow breed. Furthermore, some metabolites showed to be associated with piglets' performance and survival traits: acetate and taurine were positively related to litter weight gain and piglets' survival rate, respectively, while dimethylamine and cis-aconitate were linked to new-borns' impaired ability to survive.Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that colostrum composition is affected by breed, which, together with environmental conditions, may cause changes in colostrum metabolites content with possible consequences on piglets' performances. Among the identified metabolites, acetate, taurine, dimethylamine and cis-aconitate showed consistent associations with piglets' survival rate and litter weight gain, implying that these compounds may affect new-borns' ability to survive.

Possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats

AIM: To examine the possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats. METHODS: Female rats were fed a standard diet and received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception. In study 1, neonatal rats were randomly subjected to blood tests to investigate autism. In study 2, the 1st group was fed by the mother after an injection of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and administration of gliadin. The pups in the 2nd group were prevented from accessing maternal milk, injected IFN-γ, administered gliadin, and hand-fed human colostrum. The normal littermates fed by the table mothers were injected with physiological saline and served as normal controls in this study.RESULTS: The protein concentration was higher in group 2 than in group 1 in the duodenum (161.6 ± 9 and 135.4 ± 7 mg/g of tissue, respectively, P < 0.01). A significant increase (P < 0.001) in body weight was detected in human colostrum-treated pups on post natal day (PND) 7 and 21 vs suckling pups in group 1. A delay in eye opening was noticed in the treated rats in group 1 on PND 13 compared with the control group and group 2. Administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception resulted in significantly reduced calcium and vitamin D levels in study 1 compared with the control groups (P < 0.001). However, human colostrum uptake inhibited increases in the level of transglutaminase antibody in autistic pups with coeliac disease. CONCLUSION: The effects of early-life nutrition and human colostrum on the functional maturation of the duodenal villi in autistic rats with coeliac disease that might limit or prevent the coeliac risk with autism.

Determining the IgG concentrations in bovine colostrum and calf sera with a novel enzymatic assay

Background: Immune protection in newborn calves relies on a combination of the timing,volume and quality of colostrum consumed by the calf after birth.Poor quality colostrum with inadequate immunoglobulin concentration contributes to failed transfer of passive immunity in calves,leading to higher calf morbidity and mortality.Therefore,estimating colostrum quality and ensuring the transfer of passive immunity on farm is of critical importance.Currently,there are no on-farm tools that directly measure immunoglobulin content in colostrum or serum.The aim of this study was to apply a novel molecular assay,split trehalase immunoglobulin G assay(STIGA),to directly estimate immunoglobulin content in dairy and beef colostrum and calf sera,and to examine its potential to be developed as on-farm test.The STIGA is based on a split version of trehalase TreA,an enzyme that converts trehalose into glucose,enabling the use of a common glucometer for signal detection.In a first study,60 dairy and64 beef colostrum and 83 dairy and 84 beef calf sera samples were tested with STIGA,and the resulting glucose production was measured and compared with radial immunodiffusion,the standard method for measuring immunoglobulin concentrations.Results: Pearson correlation coefficients between the methods were determined and the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the test were calculated for different colostrum quality and failed transfer of passive immunity cut-off points.The correlations of the STIGA measured by colorimetric enzymatic reaction compared to radial immunodiffusion for dairy and beef colostrum were 0.72 and 0.73,respectively,whereas the correlations for dairy and beef sera were 0.9 and 0.85,respectively.Next,STIGA was tested in a blinded study with fresh colostrum and serum samples where the correlation coefficient was 0.93 and 0.94,respectively.Furthermore,the performance of STIGA followed by glucometer readings resulted in correlations with radial immunodiffusion of 0.7 and 0.85 for dairy and beef colostrum and 0.94 and 0.83 for dairy and beef calf serum.Conclusions: A split TreA assay was validated for measurement of the immunoglobulin content of colostrum and calf sera using both a lab-based format and in a more user-friendly format compatible with on-farm testing.

Neuroprotective effects of bovine colostrum on intracerebral hemorrhage-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in rats

Brain cell death after intracerebral hemorrhage may be mediated in part by an apoptotic mechanism Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals for their young. It plays an important role in protection and development by providing various antibodies, growth factors and nutrients, and has been used for various diseases in many countries. In the present study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effects of bovine colostrum using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures and an intracerebral hemorrhage animal model. We performed densitometric measurements of propidium iodide uptake, a step-down avoidance task, Nissl staining, and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. The present results revealed that colostrum treatment significantly suppressed N-methyI-D-aspartic acid-induced neuronal cell death in the rat hippocampus. Moreover, colostrum treatment improved short-term memory by suppressing hemorrhage-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death and decreasing the volume of the lesion induced by intracerebral hemorrhage in the rat hippocampus. These results suggest that colostrum may have a beneficial role in recovering brain function following hemorrhagic stroke by suppressing apoptotic cell death.

Influence of birth order, birth weight, colostrum and serum immunoglobulin G on neonatal piglet survival

Background： Intake of colostrum after birth is essential to stimulate intestinal growth and function, and to provide systemic immunological protection via absorption of Immunoglobulin G （IgG）. The birth order and weight of 745 piglets （from 75 litters） were recorded during a one-week period of farrowing. Only pigs weighing greater than 0.68 kg birth weight were chosen for the trial. Sow colostrum was collected during parturition, and piglets were bled between 48 and 72 hours post-birth. Piglet serum IgG and colostral IgG concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion. Results： Sow parity had a significant （P 〈 0.001） effect on sow colostral IgG concentration, being 5% higher in multiparous females. Sow colostral IgG concentration explained 6% and piglet birth order accounted for another 4% of the variation observed in piglet serum IgG concentration （P 〈 0.05）; however, birth weight had no detectable effect. Piglet serum IgG concentration had both a linear （P 〈 0.05） and quadratic effect （P 〈 0.05） on % survival. Piglets with 1,000 mg/dl serum IgG or less （n=24） had a 67% survival; whereas, piglets with IgG concentrations between 2250 to 2500 mg/dl （n=247） had a 91% survival. Birth order had no detectable effect on survival, but birth weight had a positive linear effect （P 〈 0.05）. Piglets weighing 0.9 kg （n = 107） at birth had a 68% survival rate, and those weighing 1.6 kg （n = 158） had an 89% survival. Conclusion： We found that the combination of sow colostrum IgG concentration and birth order can account for 10% of the variation of piglet serum IgG concentration and that piglets with less than 1,000 mg/dl IgG serum concentration and weight of 0.9 kg at birth had low survival rate when compared to their larger siblings. The effective management of colostrum uptake in neonatal piglets in the first 24 hrs post-birth may potentially improve survival from birth to weaning.

The Impact of Season, Parity, and Volume of Colostrum on Holstein Dairy Cows Colostrum Composition

The objectives of the study were to assess colostrum quality and nutrients in dairy cows in Isfahan, Iran, and to determine the effects of calving season, parity, and volume of first colostrum on colostrum quality. Colostrum samples were collected over the period January-December, from 365 Holstein dairy cows from 12 dairy farms and analyzed for their IgG, IgM, total solids, fat, protein, lactose, Ca, and P concentrations. The IgG and IgM contents were measured to be 35.8 ± 17.6 and 5.8 ± 3.8 mg/mL, respectively. Mean percentages of total solids, fat, protein, and lactose in the samples were 27.2 ± 5.8, 4.6 ± 3.4, 18.5 ± 4.9, and 2.0 ± 0.9, respectively while calcium and P concentrations were 2.69 ± 0.9 and 2.02 ± 0.88 g/kg. Colostral IgG and IgM concentrations were found to be higher during the winter months. Calving season affected lactose, Ca, and P concentrations as evidenced by the higher colostral lactose percentages in cows calved in the fall but higher calcium and P concentrations in those calved in the summer. Parity had no significant effects on IgG and IgM concentrations. However, a decreasing trend was observed in Ca and P concentrations with increasing parity. Volume of first milking colostrum did not have any effect on colostral composition. The findings of this study indicate that colostrum quality may be affected by calving season.

Influencing factors of colostrum exposure to low-level lead and their relationship with early neural development of infants

BACKGROUND： Exposure to low-level lead has a toxic effect on the development of neonates, which has attracted wide attention. Colostrum lead level can be used as the indication of lead exposure. OBJECTIVE： To observe the relationship of colostrum lead level and the neurobehavioral development of infants. DESIGN： A prospective control observation. SETTING： Center for Maternal and Child Health, Shanxi Provincial Children＇s Hospital. PARTICIPANTS： Totally 128 neonates of full-term normal delivery, 76 male and 52 female, from Shanxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Center and Jiexiu Maternal and Child Health Center were involved in this study. All the involved neonates had no peripartal ischemic/hypoxic history or fetus intrauterine developmental lag. Pregnant women had no various acute and chronic diseases in pregnancy, family history of neurological disease or occupational lead exposure. 128 portions of colostrum sample of full-term normal delivery were collected. Informed consents of detected items were obtained from the puerperants and their relatives. METHODS： ① Experimental grouping： Lead level in the colostrum was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. According to lead level in the colostrum, the neonates were classified into two exposure groups of greater than or equal to 0.24 μmol/L in a high-level lead group and less than 0.24 μ mol/L in a low-level lead group. ② Experimental evaluation： Mental developmental index （MDI） and psychological developmental index （PDI） of 3-month-old infants were evaluated with Bayley Scales of Infant Development （BSID）. The relationships of MDI, PDI and colostrum lead level were performed correlation regression analysis; The relationship of colostrum lead level and development was performed multi-factor analysis with family environment and health questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： ① Evaluation results of MDI and PDI. ② Multi-factor analysis results. RESULTS： Totally 128 neonates were involved in the study. Ten and eleven neonates were lost due to emigration in the high-level lead group and low-level lead group respectively, and the other 107 neonates participated in the final analysis. ① MDI and PDI in the high-level lead group were significantly lower than those in the low-level lead group, respectively （P 〈 0.01）; Regression analysis results showed that two developmental indexes were statistically negatively correlated with colostrum lead level （regression equation y = 1.9＋0.01x1,-0.04x2,＋0.04x3,＋0.03x4）. ② Four variables of the factors included by family environment and health questionnaires were taken into equation. Large maternal age, irrational dietary pattern in pregnancy and pollution degree of habitation environment in pregnancy were the risk factors of colostrum lead level （partial regression coefficien t =0.598 4,0.426 8,0.306 7,P 〈 0.05-0.01）, and calcium supplementation in pregnancy was a protective factor （partial regression coefficien t =-0.455 8, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： High colostrum lead level will have adverse effects on the early development of neonates; Large maternal age, irrational dietary pattern in pregnancy and pollution degree of habitation environment in pregnancy are the risk factors of colostrum lead level, and calcium supplementation in pregnancy was a protective factor.

Effect of human milk and colostrum on Entamoeba histolytica

AIM:Many defense factors of the mother's colostrum or milk protect infants from intestinal, respiratory and systemic infections. In the present study, we investigated the effect of colostrum and mature human milk on E. histolytica parasites in vitro.METHODS:Samples of human milk were collected from 5 healthy lactating mothers.The medium with human milk at concentrations of 2%, 5% and 10% was obtained.RESULTS:The lethal effect of E. histolytica on the medium supplemented with different concentrations of both colostrum and mature human milk was significant during the first 30min. We also detected that the results of colostrum and mature human milk were similar. No statistically significant differences were found between same concentrations of colostrum and mature human milk at the same times.CONCLUSION:Colostrum and mature human milk have significant lethal effect on E. histolytica and protect against its infection in breast fed children.

Concentration Variations of Growth Factorsin Colostrum and Normal Milk of Sows

An experiment was conducted to determine the concentration variation of epidermal growth factors(EGF), include insulin-like growth factor -Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ), transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-Ⅰ ), and basic fibroblast gr-owth factor (bFGF) in colostrum and normal milk of sows within 35 days after parturition. The results showed that the concentration of EGF, IGF-Ⅰ, TGF-β, bFGF was significantly higher in colostrum than that in normal milk. The concentration of these growth factors in colostrum was significantly decreased with the stage lapse of lactation, and then they remained stable in normal milk. Parity had a slight effect on the concentration of these growth factors.

Isolation and Purification of Bovine Colostrum sIgA and IgG

To further utilize bioactive substance such as bovine colostrum sIgA and IgG, sIgA and IgG were isolated and purified simultaneously by salting out, ultrafiltration and gel chromatography, etc. The analysis of results were showed quantitatively by nonhydrogenized SDS-PAGE, and quanlities of sIgA and IgG were respectively detected by Western Blot. The results showed that the purity and yield of bovine colostrum sIgA were 85.3% and 42.8%, respectively, while the purity and yield of bovine colostrum IgG were respectively 97.2% and 64.4%. This preparative method provides theoretical and experimental foundation for sIgA industrial production.

A Method of Purification of Bovine Colostrum sIgA

sIgA in bovine colostrum was purified by ultrafiltration and enzymolysis methods in this experiment, and the prepared substance was detected by Western Blot. The purity and yield were up to 73.6% and 65.2%, respectively. This convenient technique offers helpful exploration for production of bovine colostrum sIgA

A Study on Heat Resistance and Initial Characterization of Protease Inhibitors in Porcine Colostrum

Porcine colostrum was separated into the acid soluble fraction (SF) and casein fraction (CF) by acidifying followed by centrifuge. SF was further separated by liquid chromatography and anisotropic membrane filtration. Capacities of the SF or CF of porcine colostrum, to inhibit trypsin and chymotrypsin activity and to inhibit the epidermal growth factor (EGF) degradation in pig small intestinal contents, were determined under different heat treatments. The study showed that trypsin inhibitors in porcine colostrum survived heat treatments of 100℃ water bath for up to 10 min, but exposure to boiling water bath for 30 min significantly decreased the inhibitory activity. Compared with the trypsin inhibitors, the chymotrypsin inhibitors were more heat sensitive. SF was more heat sensitive than CF. Separation of the SF of porcine colostrum by liquid chromatography and anisotropic membrane filtration revealed that the porcine colostrum protease inhibitors, those had the capacity to inhibit the trypsin chymotrypsin activity and enhanced the stability of EGF in the gastrointestinal(GI) lumen of weaned pigs, existed mainly in SF, milk derived, were a group of heat labile small proteins with molecular weight of 10 00050 000.

A Study on the Inhibitory Potency of Protease Inhibitorsin Porcine Colostrum

Porcine colostrum and milk were separated into the acid-soluble fraction(SF)and casein fraction(CF)by centrifuge. Trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory capacity in porcine colostrum, milk and their components were determined by incubating bovine trypsin or chymotrypsin in a medium. The inhibition of insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I)and epidermal growth factor(EGF)degradation in pig small intestinal contents by porcine colostrum was measured by incubating iodinated IGF-I or EGF. Degradation of labeled IGF-I or EGF was determined by monitoring the generation of radioactivity soluble in 30% trichloroacetic acid(TCA). The results showed that porcine colostrum had high levels of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity and increased the stability of IGF-I and EGF in pig intestinal contents. The SF was higher in inhibitory potency than CF. The present study revealed that the protease inhibitors in porcine colostrum, milk-derived and colostrum-specific, existed mainly in SF.

Oxytocin Massage Can Expedite the Time of Colostrum Discharge in the Post Section Caesarian

The production of breast milk is physiologically influenced by prolactin hormone and breast milk is influenced by oxytocin hormone. Oxytocin massage can increase the oxytocin hormone. The increase in the oxytocin hormone can expedite the time of colostrum. The use of drugs in the post section cesarean (SC) will inhibit the formation of breast milk production. Oxytocin massage is one of the efforts to expedite the release of colostrum. Purpose: To analyze the implementation of oxytocin massage in accelerating the release of colostrum in post-SC and the effect of oxytocin massage, breast care and the frequency of breastfeeding simultaneously to accelerate the release of colostrum. Method: The design used quasi-experiment. The population were post-SC with a sample of 60 people (30 post-SC were treated with oxytocin massage and 30 post-SC were not treated). Both groups were interviewed and observed in breast care, the frequency of breastfeeding and the time of first colostrum discharge. Result: Analysis used independent T-test and double linear regression test with α = 0.05. The results showed significantly that expedite time of colostrum in the post SC group with oxytocin massage occurred 23.04 hours faster than the controlled group who were not treated with oxytocin massage and post SC who were given oxytocin massage accompanied by breastfeeding their babies as often as possible to be faster 2.6 hours when the colostrum was released with α value < 0.05. Conclusion: Massage oxytocin speeds up the release of colostrum in the post SC.

Monitoring Passive Transfer of Immunity in Neonatal Calves by Measuring Levels of IgG in Blood Using Immunoassay Method and Refractometer Measures of Serum and Colostrum

IgG Check calf test has been used in this study to identify if a failure of passive transfer occurs in neonatal calves by measuring the level of IgG in blood. An adequate level of IgG measured in all calves at 48 hours, 7 days and 14 days after birth showed level of IgG 1000 mg/dl. This level indicated that they have good passive transfer of immunity. Also, in this study colostrum quality fed to calves was detected using Brix Refractometer. The colostrum is of high quality as it contains 50 mg/ml of IgG. This Brix refractometer can be used on the farm level to estimate colostrum IgG content and monitoring colostrum feeding practices. Colostrum with high quality IgG could provide calves with enough IgG to attain successful passive transfer of immunity. Brix and Obione refractometers provide simple, rapid method for estimating IgG concentration on calf serum, thus considered to be the most common method for determining passive transfer failure.

Performance Characteristics of ELISA to Detect Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Antibodies Using Colostrum

Colostrum contains substantially higher concentrations of immunoglobulins (Igs) when compared with serum or milk, which may improve the diagnostic sensitivity of an antibody ELISA when using colostrum. In this study, BVD was used as a model to identify the performance characteristics of colostrum and to assess the potential for increased ELISA sensitivity when compared with serum. Blood and colostrum samples were collected from cows within two dairy cattle herds: a previously infected and BVD-vaccinated Holstein-Friesian (positive herd) herd, and a bulk-tank milk antibody negative (negative herd) Jersey herd. All samples were tested using a commercial BVDV antibody ELISA. Median sample-to-positive (S/P) colostrum ratios were significantly higher than their respective serum counterparts, and positive herd S/P ratios were significantly higher than the respective negative herd values (P < 0.001). Using the manufacturer’s recommended serum dilution (1:5) and colostrum dilution (undiluted), and a cut-off threshold S/P ratio of 0.2, diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and diagnostic specificity (DSp) for colostrum were 100% and 70%, respectively. These values increased to 100% DSe and 100% DSp with an increase in cut-off threshold S/P to 0.5. At a sample dilution of 1:100, the DSe of colostrum was 90% and significantly higher compared with serum (DSe 17%). Colostrum has the potential to improve identification of previously infected animals, either individually, or when using pooled samples.

Nutraceutical Supplementation Based on Colostrum as Osteoporosis Treatment: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Naturally based treatments for osteoporosis are currently limited. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain whether bovine colostrum supplementation can improve bone health in humans. Methods: In total 63 individuals volunteered in a 4-month supplementation project. They were stratified into three groups: 1) healthy post-menopausal women (n = 24); 2) individuals with osteopenia (n = 25); 3) people with osteoporosis (n = 14). Participants of each group were randomly assigned into two experimental sub-groups: a) the bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation (200 mL/day;5 days/week); b) the placebo sub-group. Before and after the 4-month supplementation, blood samples were obtained and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) was performed on three different anatomical sites: lumbar spine (LS), left femur neck (FN), and left forearm (Arm). Bone health markers (bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide (CTX-I), deoxypyridinoline (DPD)) as well as immunological markers (interleukin 6 (IL6) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)), were assessed in blood serum with enzyme immunoassays, at baseline and 4-months after BC supplementation. Results: No significant changes were found in bone densitometry factors (p > 0.05), for all studied blood parameters and their calculated effect sizes. Conclusions: It is concluded that, as studied herein, BC does not seem to affect human bone health. This pilot study though warrant the need for further research into the efficacy of BC in patients with osteoporosis.

Colostrum Supplementation as an Aid for Improving Health and Growth Performance of Preweaned Holstein Dairy Calves

The adjective of this study was to determine the effect of partial replacement of whole milk with second- and third-milking colostrum on the health status and growth performance of preweaned Holstein dairy calves. A minimum of 110 calves of 2 - 3 days old Holstein Friesian calves were enrolled and randomly allocated to two treatment groups 1) CS—colostrum supplement group and 2) UC—unsupplemented control group. The CS group of calves received pooled second and third milking colostrum with Brix reading between 19 and 24% (mean 21.8% ± 1.75%) as colostrum supplement (one liter mixed with 3 L of whole milk), and UC group of calves received 4 L of whole milk in each of the 2 daily meals for 14 days. Serum IgG levels were determined to evaluate passive transfer of immunity. Milk and grain consumption was recorded for 28 days by research personnel. All calves were weighted at entry of the trial, at 28 days and at weaning (65 days). Calves receiving supplemental colostrum had less diarrhea and respiratory disease than control calves. Also, the results indicated that health problems were associated with low serum IgG levels and low-weight calves. Grain consumption and average daily gain (ADG) over 28 days of life were greater in CS group of calves compared with UC group of calves. Colostrum supplementation during the first 14 days of life in calves was effective in reading diarrheal and bovine respiratory diseases and in the use of antimicrobials. Further studies are needed to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in beneficial effects of colostrum supplementation on calf growth and health.