Estimation of immunoglobulin-G content of colostrum and milk from whey protein content in ruminant animals

After the analysis of the relation between the serum protein and the immunoglobulin-G content of the colostrum and the milk of 141 cattle of various genotypes (pure-bred or cross-bred), 55 goats of various breeds and 171 sheep of various breeds, it was established that there exists a very close correlation between these two components in all three species. R values of 0.9869 for cattle, 0.9723 for goats and 0.9574 for sheep were determined. The R value calculated for the three species evaluated collectively was 0.9667. The very close relation ascertained – by means of linear regression – between serum protein and immunoglobulinG provides justification for the application of the equations formulated in this study for the estimation of immunoglobulin-G content on the basis of serum protein content.