Normal serum and colostrum levels of IgG1, IgM and IgA in indigenous, exotic and crossbred cattle in Nigeria

Abstract Serum and colostrum levels of IgG 1 , IgM and IgA were determined in the indigenous White Fulani and Ndama cattle, the exotic German Brown and crosses between the local Ndama and German Brown breeds kept under similar husbandry conditions in Nigeria. Of these breeds, adult Ndama had the highest plasma values of immunoglobulins (IgG 1 26·4 ± 6·2 mg/ml, IgM 4·3 ± 1·2 mg/ml, IgA 0·97 ± 0·3 mg/ml) while the German Brown had the lowest (IgG 1 24·6 ± 3·9 mg/ml, IgM 0·98 ± 0·3 mg/ml, IgA 0·51 ± 0·1 mg/ml). The German Brown X Ndama had similar plasma values to the German Brown parental stock except for IgM values which were higher (IgG 1 22·8 ± 8·0 mg/ml, IgM 2·20 ± 0·2 mg/ml, IgA 0·45 ± 0·1 mg/ml). In general, the concentrations of serum and colostrum immunoglobulins in these cattle were higher than for similar values in cattle breeds reared under temperate conditions.