Serum immunoglobulin concentrations at two days of age in lambs born after ova transfer between ewes of different breeds

Abstract

SummaryImmunoglobulin concentrations were compared in Finnish Landrace and other lambs, born to ewes of their own and of different breeds, to determine if the superiority of the Finnish lambs in obtaining maternal immunoglobulin from colostrum, shown in previous experiments, is due to special qualities of the ewes or of the lambs. The groups compared were, respectively, Finnish lambs born to Finnish, Welsh Mountain or Border Leicester ewes; Finnish, Oxford Down and Soay lambs born to Finnish ewes; Finnish and Merino lambs born to Border Leicester ewes; and Finnish and Southdown lambs born to Welsh Mountain ewes. The immunoglobulin concentrations in the Finnish lambs were in every comparison significantly higher than in the other breeds, and were not related to the breeds of the dams.