Abstract

The colostrum immunoglobulin concentrations of selenium-deficient cows and in the blood of their calves were studied in twelve Friesian cows of 4-9 year old. The animals were 7 months pregnant at the beginning of the experience and it were fed with a selenium deficient diet consisted in hay and a commercial concentrate (diet 0.04 ppm dry matter) and kept under permanent housing condition with water ad libitum. The cows were allocated into two homogeneous groups of six animals each, selenium supplemented (Se-S) and selenium deficient (Se-D) and the animals of the Se-S group were supplemented with barium selenate (1 mg/Se/kg s. c.) ± 45 days before calving, whilst the Se-D group received nothing. The balance of selenium was assessed by GSH-Px activity in blood and the concentration of immunoglobulin in serum and colostrums by immunodiffusion radial method. Selenium deficiency did not affect serum and colostrum total IgG, IgM and IgA concentration in cows (P > 0.05). However, the IgG1 colostrum concentrations decreased in selenium supplemented cows (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the nutritional deficiency of selenium did not affect total IgG, IgG1, IgM and IgA in calves serum concentrations until 6 days of age.