EFFECT OF WHEY PROPORTION ON THE ACCURACY OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN ESTIMATIONS IN COLOSTRUM

Prior to immunoglobulin estimations being undertaken on ewe colostral whey, the colostrum sample has to the diluted owing to its viscid nature. In the experiment described here, it is shown that the dilution factor can only be accurately measured if the proportion of whey in the colostrum sample is known. When the dilution factor is not known accurately, discrepancies of up to 500% can be recorded in the immunoglobulin levels measured. It is also shown that the immunoglobulin level of colostral whey is not the same as the level recorded for whole colostrum. © 1979 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.