Properties that boost immunity of calves identified, say NDRI scientists

Tribune News Service

Parveen Arora

Karnal, January 17

In a major achievement, scientists of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) claimed to have got success in identifying the new immune modulating properties of colostrum, also known as the “liquid gold” - the first yellowish thick secretion produced from the mammary gland of all mammals just immediately after parturition or calving.

With this property, not only the quality of colostrum increases, but also the growth and health of newborn calves improves, claim scientists.

Rich source of immunoglobulins

Colostrum is a very rich source of immunoglobulins and immune components like, vitamins, complement proteins, proline-rich polypeptides and immune cells such as neutrophils and lymphocytes. —Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Director, NDRI

Results encouraging

We have been working on the project for the past three years. The results are encouraging as we have increased the colostrum quantity and quality, along with the growth and health of the newborn calves. —Ajay Kumar Dang, Principal scientist

The scientists are also isolating immune cells and immune boosting molecules of colostrums for studying their activity on the cells of immunosuppressed mice and sick calves. It has been seen that colostrum components are improving the body weight and health of the sick mice and unhealthy calves, said Dr Ajay Kumar Dang, Principal Scientist, who along with his team mates Dr SS Lathwal and Dr Rajeev Kapila have been trying to improve the quality of colostrum by feeding essential vitamins and minerals to the pregnant cows just one month before calving.

“We have been working on the project sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi,for the past three years. The results are encouraging as we have increased the colostrum quantity and quality, along with the growth and health of the newborn calves,” he added.

Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Director, NDRI, says for many centuries colostrum is used traditionally as both medicinal and spiritual purposes in ayurvedic medicine as well as by the ancient spiritual preachers. “Before the discovery of antibiotics, colostrum was used as a natural immune-boosting agent. Colostrum has been recommended universally by WHO as the perfect and complete food for every newborn. Colostrum is a very rich source of immunoglobulins and immune components like, vitamins, complement proteins, proline-rich polypeptides and immune cells such as neutrophils, lymphocytes,” said the Director.

DrChauhan says NDRI is continuously working to improve the health of newborn calves. “The calf mortality in the institute herd has reduced from 15 per cent to only 2 per cent today. Colostrum is natural and 100 per cent safe food supplement and this super food in future will play a more important role in human nutrition also,” said Dr Chauhan.

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