Various aspects of the colostrum supply on dairy farms and the usefulness of the glutaraldehyde test in the evaluation of the colostrum supply

: The serum gamma-globulin concentrations measured in 183 dairy calves on six farms (24-48 hours after parturition) were used to study the influence of quantity, time and method of administration of the first colostrum. It was established that the administration of 1.5-2 litres of colostrum within four hours after parturition results in the highest concentrations of gamma-globulins in serum. Assuming that in calves between 24 and 48 hours after parturition the lower acceptable limit of serum gamma-globulin concentrations is 10 g per litre, it can be concluded that the glutaraldehyde test is a simple and useful method in evaluating the supply of colostrum.