Colostrum/IgG levels

[HFSH]

Just curious. Many breeders I know don't have the vet pull blood on their newborns after 12 hours if the colostrum tests well with the anti-freeze tester.

I do tho. I routinely harvest colostrum and freeze it, and I like to have a good idea from the IgG numbers as to how "good" it is. If it's borderline, I don't keep it.

The vets like to see the numbers at least at 800 at 12+ hours. Mine pull blood and run the test back at the clinic's lab, versus using the field snap test.

So, this year, our first two mares to foal: IgG reports back. First foal is at 3900 (I have a bottle of this wonderous stuff!), second at 3030 (we did not harvest this mare's colostrum as it was a difficult birth and she has a small bag, being a maiden). My vet was astounded. In all her years she's NEVER seen IgG's come back over 3000 and she said those over 2000 were rare. And I have 2 now within 2 days over 3000. Last year I had a mare well over 2000. Have a bottle of that too.

So my question is, do you test as I do, and if so, what numbers are you seeing??

[CrossWinds81]

Wow! That is remarkable! What are you feeding your girls? Any other routine that may impact these numbers? I would love to know, this will be my first year breeding, and I have an older (though, extremely healthy) mare and want to do everything in my power to give both mare and foal the best advantage for a successful foaling/start in life.

[HFSH]

:lol:
that's what the owner of the second mare said, what are you feeding these girls!!

I really have NO idea why they have such good numbers. The first mare foaled "early" and is a younger mare (she's 8 this year, this is her third foal). The second mare was "late" and was a maiden mare and is older, around 12-13 I believe.

As far as feed, nothing remarkably exciting. Clean oats, Buckeye's Gro N Win or Alfa Grow N Win depending on our hay, and either grass or alfalfa hay or a mix thereof. The first mare was also on red raspberry leaves but the second mare was not.

I have 2 more mares to foal, will be curious to see how their foal IgG's come back.

anyone else?

Edited to add, they both had their normal pre-foaling immunizations.

[tom]

I do not test colostrum since even if the level is high there is no guarantee that the foal efficiently absorbed the antibodies during its first 24 hours or so of life. I believe it is better to just test the foal's blood.

So I do a blood test on all the foals at approximately 36 hours post-foaling using the DVM Stat testing device. It is easy to use and gives a precise numeric reading.

I draw the blood and let it sit for one hour so the plasma rises to the surface of the vial. Then I draw off the plasma and put it in a second vial that is centrifuged for 5 minutes so the red blood cells collect on the bottom. Then I draw off the correct amount of plasma and test it using the device.

These are the decision rules I use:

IgG < 800: immediate plasma

IgG between 801 and 1000: plasma at 2 - 3 weeks of age

IgG > 1001: do nothing

Of course in special cases I may use stricter criteria.

[Equine Reproduction]

We test all foals regardless of the quality of the colostrum. Tom is spot on in that you can have excellent colostrum but the foal may not have absorbed the antibodies. It is such a basic test to do, inexpensive if you do it yourself and essential to know should the foal have low levels.

In a retrospective study, it was found that foals that died shortly after foaling, one of the common denominators was that no IgG levels were checked. When we did a survey a few years ago to see how many vets routinely checked IgG levels, over 80% of those surveyed said no tests were done. With that said, when we have discussed the lack of testing with vets, it was indicated that most mare owners were reluctant to pay for the test. While it may not seem important and in most cases, the foal will have absorbed adequate levels, it's those foals who don't that lack of testing can have catastrophic results.

Glad to see more breeders are testing levels! Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[tom]

Kathy is so right.

Regarding the economics of testing, the DVM Stat cost me $400 (I think that's the price I paid) and I bought it when I was in the US for a holiday.

I purchased the test kits while in Ireland (they have to be kept refigerated) and they cost me here about euro 8 per test (about $12.00); they come in a box of 20 tests.

I already owned the centrifuge (and this step is not called for in the directions).

If even one case of joint ill is prevented then this investment will provide a very big return.

[HFSH]

I do not test colostrum since even if the level is high there is no guarantee that the foal efficiently absorbed the antibodies during its first 24 hours or so of life. I believe it is better to just test the foal's blood.

So I do a blood test on all the foals at approximately 36 hours post-foaling using the DVM Stat testing device. It is easy to use and gives a precise numeric reading.


Sorry if I was unclear, but yes, we pull blood and test the foals IgG level.

[tom]

Why test at 12 hours when it will always under-report the true level?

[Equine Reproduction]

Why test at 12 hours when it will always under-report the true level?

Because if one tests at 12 hours and there is 0 passive transfer or if the levels are exceptionally low, one can orally supplement with either another mare's colostrum or a product such as Seramune and re-test. If the foal then has sufficient antibodies, you're done and don't have to risk doing a transfusion which is always risky. It has been our experience that probably 95% of foals that are receiving adequate antibodies are at 800 or better at 12 hours. Those that are less than 600 or less, we'll usually try and supplement with stored colostrum from another mare who's foal received great passive transfer. We'll then re-check at 24 hours and if levels are still insufficient, we will at that time do a transfusion.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[tom]

Thanks, Kathy. I see it now. That makes sense.

[Home Again Farm]

I routinely check the quality of the colostrum as it can me a heads up that there may be a problem. If the colostrum is not great, I have given Seramune in the past and lately have given frozen colostrum from that we have saved.

I always do an IGG - usually at about 12 hours.

Interestingly, I have some "super mares" whose colostrum always seems to be off the charts - and whose foals' IGGs tend to be the same. I also had one mare that always had very borderline colostrum. Her foals always got a boost. Some other mares had more average IGGs with their foals. All the mares had the same prefoaling shots, same feeding program, etc. I wonder if there are differences in their immune responses that cause differences in colostrum and their foal IGGs?

But, whatever the reason behind the differences, I find it useful to check the colostrum (it only takes 30 seconds, if that) and then do an IGG to know for sure. :yes:

[Tiki]

I have one mare, now retired and 23yo, who had very good looking colostrum, although it wasn't tested. The foals were tested at 12-18 hours and I think one was <400 and the other was about 600. Both got transfusions, came alive from being very quiet foals, and started leaping and playing and bucking - with no further problems.

I ALWAYS have it tested!

[Home Again Farm]

Tiki, the mare I used to own whose colostrum did not test well was interesting. The colostrum looked like it should be good. But when tested with an antifreeze tester the two times she foaled for me some of the balls were on the bottom of the tester - not suspended at all. She had the same care all my other girls had. Her foals always got either Seramune, frozen colostrum or plasma. Of course, I also always do an IGG test.

[CrossWinds81]

Would it be overkill to automatically give the foal Seramune at birth? I would still test at 12 hours. For the cost, I would think it would be worthwhile to just do it as extra booster. No?

[Equine Reproduction]

Would it be overkill to automatically give the foal Seramune at birth? I would still test at 12 hours. For the cost, I would think it would be worthwhile to just do it as extra booster. No?

Double edged sword. Research indicates that by getting the foal's gut to close down sooner helps to reduce the problems associated with lack of passive transfer. In other words, it helps prevent the foal from ingesting pathogens. But, with that said, obviously the mare's colostrum is the absolute best source for the particular pathogens in your area. She's built natural antibodies against those pathogens. So,having a foal ingest as much of the colostrum is its best defense. With that said, by giving the foal Seramune at birth, you assist in shutting down the gut and insuring that the foal is ingesting some protection. Many farms do it prophylactically. Personally, I would be more inclined to give the foal some colostrum that had been saved from a mare that was known to have had good colostrum. Be aware, that it is still not a guarantee that the foal is actually absorbing the antibodies and will still need to have IgG levels tested.

Hope that helps.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[HFSH]

Why test at 12 hours when it will always under-report the true level?

Well if 3030 is undervalue..... :lol::lol::lol:

We tested THAT mare at 12 hours because we were concerned that she was producing good colostrum. Obviously with the foal at 3030 values at 12 hours, her colostrum was not only good, it was phenominal.

If you wait too long, you cannot thaw and administer frozen colostrum, your only choice is to give them a plasma tranfusion. I'd rather NOT do that.

[HFSH]

Double edged sword. Research indicates that by getting the foal's gut to close down sooner helps to reduce the problems associated with lack of passive transfer. In other words, it helps prevent the foal from ingesting pathogens. But, with that said, obviously the mare's colostrum is the absolute best source for the particular pathogens in your area. She's built natural antibodies against those pathogens. So,having a foal ingest as much of the colostrum is its best defense. With that said, by giving the foal Seramune at birth, you assist in shutting down the gut and insuring that the foal is ingesting some protection. Many farms do it prophylactically. Personally, I would be more inclined to give the foal some colostrum that had been saved from a mare that was known to have had good colostrum. Be aware, that it is still not a guarantee that the foal is actually absorbing the antibodies and will still need to have IgG levels tested.

Hope that helps.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com (http://www.equine-reproduction.com)

Just to offer more info on what Kathy said, I used to give Seramune but had a foal that didn't absorb it or the mare's colostrum, so he got a transfer. SO sometimes no matter what you do it doesn't work and you still have to do a transfer. We assume that foal was born with the ability to absorb the immunities already closed.

[Tiki]

Who carries the DVM Stat Spectrophotometer, or where can you get one. A search on the Internet turned up only comments about it, not a supplier??

[Home Again Farm]

http://www.arssales.com/equine/html/epfo-refractometer.html (http://www./)

The woman who foals out my mares uses this one. Side by side tests with an antifreeze tester show that the antifreeze tester is mighty accurate - and only a couple of dollars. :winkgrin:

[Equine Reproduction]

Who carries the DVM Stat Spectrophotometer, or where can you get one. A search on the Internet turned up only comments about it, not a supplier??

We prefer Har-Vet. There prices are more reasonable than ARS and their a great company to deal with! IMV also now has a sperm counter that also does IgGs, as well.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[tom]

http://www.vetdx.biz/DVMStat.html

[Peg]

I just had a mare foal that has never had adequate IgG levels in her foals at 12 hours. There was a study done that said those who feed Succeed to mares in foal double the IgG levels in their milk, so I tried it with the mare. The snap test was > than 800 at just 2 minutes. I'm still waiting for the blood levels. I will keep using this product. Peg

[ljshorses]

This is a very good thread. I will be next year performing many tests myself to avoid vet expenses(have to cut back somewhere). I figure that having been a biologist for 15 years (took early retirement) should be useful at home now and then can save some bucks hopefully. So...not to hijack the thread but can someone supply links to purchasae SNAP Test kits, incubators, microscopes, glassware and petri dishes etc... I know I can search the web for these items but I am sure many here already have done great leg work and know best places (cheapest too) to purchase. I want to set up a mini lab basicly. Also, does anyone have the protocol for using the anti-freeze indicator. I believe I have one of these but not sure how to test this.

We routinely save colostrum from our mares that we know have routinely had good colostrum. We have had a few cases where it was a good thing we had it and so far we haven't had to give plasma.

[Equine Reproduction]

So...not to hijack the thread but can someone supply links to purchasae SNAP Test kits, incubators, microscopes, glassware and petri dishes etc... I know I can search the web for these items but I am sure many here already have done great leg work and know best places (cheapest too) to purchase. I want to set up a mini lab basicly.

Go to our website: http://www.equine-reproduction.com On the sidebar are links to several companies that provide equine reproductive breeding equipment, including most of the products you are asking for information on. In order for those companies to become a sponsor, they have to jump through some hoops <smile>. We hand pick our sponsors to insure that they have a: products that are used in equine reproduction; b: Good pricing on their products; c: Good customer service; and d: A variety of products available. Now, I will say that the sales people don't always know the products, but they are usually very helpful and if they get into an area they don't know, will refer you to someone who does.

Also, does anyone have the protocol for using the anti-freeze indicator. I believe I have one of these but not sure how to test this.

You need one of the eyedropper type anti-freeze testers available at just about any auto supply store, or Wal-Mart. They run about $2.00 eacy. They have several colored balls in the eyedropper portion. There is usually a black rubber tube attached to the dropper. Lose that. Simply draw up a small amount of colostrum (usually less than 5 cc) into the dropper and watch the balls. You want ALL of the balls suspended in the colostrum. Then don't have to float, but you want none left sitting on the bottom of the dropper. Obviously, the higher they float the better the specific gravity and probably the better the colostrum.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[ljshorses]

Go to our website: http://www.equine-reproduction.com On the sidebar are links to several companies that provide equine reproductive breeding equipment, including most of the products you are asking for information on. In order for those companies to become a sponsor, they have to jump through some hoops <smile>. We hand pick our sponsors to insure that they have a: products that are used in equine reproduction; b: Good pricing on their products; c: Good customer service; and d: A variety of products available. Now, I will say that the sales people don't always know the products, but they are usually very helpful and if they get into an area they don't know, will refer you to someone who does.



You need one of the eyedropper type anti-freeze testers available at just about any auto supply store, or Wal-Mart. They run about $2.00 eacy. They have several colored balls in the eyedropper portion. There is usually a black rubber tube attached to the dropper. Lose that. Simply draw up a small amount of colostrum (usually less than 5 cc) into the dropper and watch the balls. You want ALL of the balls suspended in the colostrum. Then don't have to float, but you want none left sitting on the bottom of the dropper. Obviously, the higher they float the better the specific gravity and probably the better the colostrum.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

Fantastic!!! Thanks for the info.