Bovine immunoglobulins following induced parturition.

Immunoglobulins in colostrum that are absorbed into the calf's blood were studied in cows in which parturition was induced by corticosteroids 3 to 22 days before expected full-term calving. The colostral and calf serum concentrations of IgG were not different from those in cows and their calves at full-term calving. Colostral IgG content decreased precipitously between 2 and 12 hours postpartum in both groups of cows.