Cow Colostrum, an Alternative Supplement for the Newborn Llama

A newborn llama goes from a sterile womb to an environment filled with bacteria, viruses and toxins. Protection against these possible sickness-causing invaders comes from the dam's colostrum. Immunity is developed through her daily existence with exposure to barnyard contaminants as well as immunizations she might have been given over the years. Protection comes in the form of antibodies.

Antibodies are immunoglobulins of three types; IgA, IgM and IgG. These colostral antibodies are absorbed through the baby's intestine and into the blood stream. Other benefits of colostrum are the high levels of solids, minerals, proteins, vitamins and energy giving carbohydrates supplied in a concentrated form easily absorbed by the newborn. Research is being conducted to determine if colostral proteins may play a role in the humoral immune response to antigenic stimulation. Another component of colostrum is lactoferrin, a protein that binds iron, removing it from damaging microorganisms which require iron to grow and thrive. Also present are beneficial microflora which inoculate the gut and create a disadvantageous environment for pathogenic bacteria.
Absorption rates in dairy cattle indicate calves absorb colostral antibodies on a declining curve, dropping to a 33% absorption after 6 hours and 11% at 24 hours. Whether or not this is true in llamas remains to be seen, but preliminary studies show a greater percentage absorbed when the animal is supplemented soon after birth.

Radial Immunodiffusion tests were made to monitor absorption of cow colostrum (Table 1) and llama colostrum (Table 2), for IgG. The llama and bovine IgG tests are available to veterinarians and breeders throughout the world. Each species test is specific for their particular IgG.

Crias from surrounding farms have been supplemented with cow colostrum in measured amounts. In some cases where babies were too weak to stand and llama colostrum was available, we monitored the supplemented llama colostrum absorptions. Blood volume was determined by converting pounds to kilograms and multiplying that number by .07.

What we have found in our study has been that absorption of cow IgG has ranged from 2% to 26%. Animals with poor absorption were premature and their absorption rate improved over a couple of days. Cold babies with lowered body temperatures also had poor absorption. We found over 24 hours animals averaged 13% absorption. Titers on the 7 lots of cow colostrum supplemented ranged from 3400 mg/dl to 9400 mg/dl IgG, average being 5743 mg/dl. Colostrum was pooled from a commercial cattle herd located in this state (WA).

Passive transfer in 111 cria bleeds had naturally occurring llama IgG titers/ range from 100 to 3000 mg/dl. Average titer in a normal cria seemed to be 1600 mg/dl. From observations of babies with known IgG titers, we found crias with a concentration of 1000 mg/dl or higher were healthier and more active than animals with lower levels. For this reason, we decided that if we were to supplement with colostrum, we wanted to see a reasonable level of IgG present. Measurements taken on colostrum levels on a mother llama with a premature cria unable to stand and suckle gave us some insight on how potent IgG stayed in colostrum as the dam was milked. (Table 3) Samples were taken every 2 hours. Naturally, a sample of one is not a conclusive study, but the numbers are interesting in that they show how long IgG titers remain high in colostrum as it changes to milk.

Cow colostrum was chosen for several reasons. It was readily accessible, llamas have been found to share some common viruses and bacteria that also infect cattle, and we had also documented in the past the presence of cow IgG in supplemented babies up to 2 months. Some people have speculated that goat colostrum is better that cow. We have not documented the use of goat colostrum. We have found that animals with elevated levels of cow IgG do not get sick like animals with low levels of cow or llama IgG. If the IgG is present in the blood, be it cow, goat or llama, it will react and protect the animal from whatever organisms the producer of the colostrum has been exposed to. This protection lasts 21 to 30 days. Hopefully, by this time the baby is starting to develop some of its own defensive antibodies.

A cria was given 300cc of cow colostrum immediately after it was observed the mother had no milk. The titer of cow IgG in the cow colostrum was 3900 mg/dl. The highest titer of cow IgG circulating in the baby llama was 320 mg/dl on the third day after birth. Nine days after birth the llama IgG was higher in titer than the rapidly decreasing cow IgG titer. Day 30 showed a decrease in titer of cow IgG by 57%. Llama IgG now manufactured by the baby had increased to 662 mg/dl. Cow IgG could still be detected 90 days after being given in trace amounts. When checked to determine if the baby had developed antibodies to cow IgG, the baby's serum showed no reaction on immunoelectrophoresis. The measurements of IgG levels in this llama were interesting because the baby was never given llama colostrum. The measurements give us an idea of how long it takes for a baby to develop it's own immune system. Other than the 300cc of cow colostrum it had been given only milk replacer until it could eat on it's own.

Premature crias and over mature crias do not absorb colostrum well. From undocumented studies on our farm we have observed this type of cria to start absorbing colostrum after 12 to 20 hours and continue absorbing up to 72 hours. For this reason care has to be taken to supplement the cria past the 24-hour period of absorption in the normal cria. As in all cases it is important to try to supplement with the mom's colostrum first. The dam's IgG will last longer than cow or goat IgG.

In a 1997 study we attempted to document how much Bovine IgG could be supplemented to a newborn cria and how long it lasts. A freeze-dried colostrum mix from American Protein was supplemented to 10 newborns. Six crias were given 14 grams of Bovine IgG immediately at birth and 14 grams of Bovine IgG at 3 hours. The remaining 4 crias were given 8.5 grams of Bovine IgG at birth and 8.5 grams of Bovine IgG at 3 hours.

Crias were from experienced mothers that had no problem with passive transfer in the past. Crias were supplemented the Bovine IgG in a 175ml volume that was given by a 16 inch puppy feeding tube. Crias were not isolated from the mothers (both spent 24hours in a 10 x 10 ft. stall to enhance bonding).

Bovine and Camelid IgG were measured on radial immunodiffusion plates manufactured by Triple J Farms. 0 hour, 24 hour, 72 hour, 7 day, 14 day, 30 day, 60 day, and 90 day readings were taken and sometimes weanling readings as well. Transfusions of Camelid plasma were given to crias at 30 hours if their Camelid IgG level were below 1000 mg/dl. Mel Hoskin at M&M Laboratories in Michigan ran total protein, albumin and globulin levels. Table 5 contains the date from this small study.

It was interesting to note that in tubing normal cria and interfering with the dam we caused 7 out of 10 cria to need a transfusion. Crias from these mothers before the study in 1996 and after the study in 1998 treated in the same manner, except for the tubing, had average levels of passive transfer. We could think of two explanations creating poor passive transfer of Camelid IgG as; (1) intrusion between mother and cria (2) filling the cria with 175mls of colostrum at 0 hours and 3 hours decreasing hunger and the need to nurse.

Another point of interest was the amount of Bovine IgG that was needed to achieve a certain level and how long it remained in the crias blood system. On average a 29.5 pound cria supplemented 28 grams of Bovine IgG resulted in a level of 1240 mg/dl at 24 hours, 812 mg/dl at 72 hours, 622 mg/dl at 7 days, 289 mg/dl at 14 days and only a small amount detectable at 30 days generally the time that a normal cria is just beginning to manufacture it's own IgG in sufficient quantities.

Colostrum is a valuable supplement, providing newborns with protection against infections the first month of life. If management is properly utilized as to know when a baby needs assistance, supplementation of colostrum to a weak baby from the mother or donors can avoid the need of transfusions and costly veterinarian bills. As stated in previous articles, management of a llama or alpaca herd involves knowing when to leave a dam and newborn alone and when to interfere with supplementation. Preventing nursing by premature and unnecessary supplementation hinders bonding, let down of milk and possible physiological effects that the suckling action has on newborns. Current studies indicate that a Camelid's immunity system is much more efficient than any other mammal. This is another reason much effort should be put to milking the mother and using her colostrum as a preference over goat or cow colostrum. Good management in the first 24 hours will prevent much heartache and veterinary bills at 3 weeks or later.