Serum protein fluctuation in primiparous and multiparous cows during the pre-partum period

Abstract

The fluctuation of serum protein was investigated in two groups of milk cows, 6 primiparous and 6 multiparous, during the last six weeks pre-partum. Electrophoresis and the biuret method were used to analyse the serum proteins. Blood was collected from the coccigeal region at 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 weeks pre-partum and at birth. The results indicate a decrease in the total protein concentration (p < 0.0001) as a consequence of immunooglobulin concentration decrease (p < 0.0001) during the experimental period. The total protein decreased from 9.82 + 0.7 g/100 ml, six weeks pre-partum, to 7.92 + 0.6 g/100 ml, at birth (minimum value registered). In the same period immunoglobutin decreased from 4.12 + 0.7 g/100 ml to 2.40 + 0.5 g/100 ml (minimum value registered). Considering the two groups of cows separately, the multiparous showed a tendency to decrease more the immunoglobulin concentration (p < 0.09), when compared to primiparous.