Clinical parameters, intestinal function, and IGF1 concentrations in colostrum-deprived and colostrum-fed newborn pony foals.

This study investigates the effects of colostrum and milk replacer feeding on intestinal function and overall health of newborn pony foals. The researchers concluded that feeding the foals with milk replacer when they don’t receive colostrum does not majorly increase the risk of intestinal problems given they are supplied with immunoglobulins through plasma transfusions.

Study Design and Procedure

• The researchers designed an experimental study involving newborn pony foals. Two groups of foals were created: one group was fed colostrum (COL, n = 5) and the other was given an equal amount of milk replacer (MR, n = 7) for the first 24 hours of life.
• All foals received 1 liter of plasma to ensure they acquired passive immunity.
• Different parameters such as postnatal development, meconium release (first stool of the newborn), white blood cell count, intestinal motility (movement), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1, a hormone that promotes cell growth), and intestinal absorptive function were analyzed.

Results

• Findings showed that the type of early feeding (COL or MR) did not influence clinical symptoms or meconium release in the foals.
• Using ultrasonography, the researchers discovered a slightly larger jejunum and stomach in foals fed with COL as compared to those fed MR (p < 0.05).
• A significant higher percentage of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (a type of white blood cells involved in immune responses) was seen in MR foals as compared to COL foals (p < 0.05). A lower percentage of lymphocytes (another type of white blood cells) was observed in MR foals compared to COL foals (p < 0.05).
• Plasma IGFI concentration increased in both groups during the first 14 days after birth, which indicates a normal growth pattern in both groups.
• A xylose absorption test performed on day 5 showed similar increase in plasma xylose concentrations after oral ingestion. This indicates that both feeding styles have a similar effect on intestinal absorption.

Conclusion

• Feeding foals with MR instead of COL had no impact on meconium release and intestinal absorptive function. The slight differences in intestinal function between COL and MR-fed foals seem to have no significant clinical relevance.
• The conclusion drawn from this study is that foals that do not receive maternal colostrum do not carry a major risk of developing intestinal problems provided they are administered plasma transfusions to provide essential immunoglobulins.