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Inbreeding and Immunoglobulin G₁ Concentrations in Cattle^1,2,

Washington State University, Pullman and Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Abstract

Immunoglobulin G₁ concentration (IgG₁) was measured in presuckle colostrum and calf serum obtained at 36 h and at weaning from inbred and straightbred Angus, Brangus, Hereford, Red Angus and Simmental cattle. Sources of variation considered as dam traits examined for IgG₁ in colostrum and 36-h calf serum included line of sire, sire within line, age, and linear regression of IgG₁ on inbreeding of dam. Only line of sire and inbreeding of dam were significant in the analysis of 36-h calf serum. Sources of variation considered as calf traits examined for IgG₁ in calf serum at 36 h and at weaning included line of sire, sire within line, sex of calf, age of dam, and regressions of calf serum IgG₁ on inbreeding of the calf and on dam's colostral IgG₁. Only sire within line and the regression on dam's colostral IgG₁ were significant for calf serum IgG₁ at 36 h. Large differences existed in 36-h calf serum IgG₁ between sires both within lines and when lines were ignored. Calves with 36-h serum IgG₁ of less than 10 mg/ml were two to four times more likely to die before weaning than calves with higher IgG₁ levels. The heritability estimates of IgG₁ by paternal half-sib analysis were .41 ± .30 for colostrum measured as a trait of the dam and .56 ± .25 for 36-h calf serum and .05 ± .17 for calf serum at weaning considered as a trait of the calf. These estimates indicate that IgG₁ in colostrum and 36-h calf serum could be increased by selection. Level of inbreeding had no influence on IgG₁ except when 36-h calf serum IgG₁ was considered as a trait of the dam.

¹ Scientific paper no. 7775, College of Agric. and Home Econ. Res. Center, Washington State Univ.

² The authors are grateful to J. K. Walck and the staff at the San Juan Basin Res. Center for their assistance in sample collection.

³ Present address: Dept. of Anim. and Poult. Sci., Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci., Washington State Univ., Pullman.

⁵ Dept. of Anim. Sci., Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins.

⁶ San Juan Basin Res. Center, Hesperus, CO.