One fundamental aspect of immune programming is teach- ing immune cells to differentiate between harmful pathogens and “friendly” commensal bacteria of the gut microbiome. Additionally, colostrum contains prebiotics such as lacto- oligo saccharides, to promote the development of a physio- logical microbiome. The gut microbiome is a pivotal compo- nent of the immune system, which influences the health of the entire organism through the gut–brain axis, the gut–lung axis and the gut–skin axis. It is therefore vital that the gut microbiome is firmly established early in life.


Value for everyone Bovine colostrum supplements are widely used in young ani- mal nutrition, not only for calves, but also for piglets and even broiler chicks. How can bovine colostrum provide value across such different species? Again, the secret lies in the bio- active substances. Their effects on gut epithelium and pre- biotic properties are universal and can therefore support all newborn animals.


Can colostrum quality be controlled? Healthy animals produce high-quality colostrum. It has been shown that stress factors such as disease, heat stress, feed


Figure 1 - Selected colostral components and their functions (adapted from Schuberth, 2021).


Pathogens


IgG


IgM


IgA


Lactoferrin Lysozyme Insulin-like


growth factor Epithelial


growth factor


Prebiotic


Immune cell pogramming


Antibacterial


Epithelial cell differentiation


Proline- rich-polypeptide


Lactoperoxidase


Lactooligo- saccharides


restriction or social stress influence colostrum composition. Therefore, good management practices not only ensure wel- fare for the breeding herd. They also secure a healthy start in life for their offspring, with good colostrum as the basis for lifelong fitness.


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▶ DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 8, No. 3, 2021 13


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