Use of polyvalent cow colostrum in the prevention of enteric infections in calves and piglets.

Colostrum of cows immunized with a polyvalent vaccine against enteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli gave good protection to piglets and calves against enteric coli infections. Bovine immunoglobulin (IgG1) and its precipitable fragments persisted in the small intestine of piglets for 6 hours after oral administration. The proteolytic breakdown of porcine colostral IgG2, which occurs predominantly in the small intestine proceeded at a higher rate than that of heterologous bovine colostral IgG1. Colostrum of cows immunized with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus by intramammary administration protected newborn piglets from virulent TGE virus on oral administration. The prevention of enteric coli infections in suckling piglets and calves in Czechoslovakia is based on vaccination of pregnant cows and sows and on additional passive protection of weanlings by oral administration of dried or liquid immune colostrum or serum of cows vaccinated with polyvalent vaccines prepared from enteropathogenic strains of E. Coli.