Abstract :
Forty newborn Majorera goats were randomly assigned to one of two groups. On the first
day of life, the kids were fed atomized colostrum. The kids were subsequently fed a milk
replacer (16% w/v) twice a day. The experimental group received two intramuscular doses
of a reputed immunostimulant composed of a Propionibacterium acnes extract, Ochrobactrum
intermedium lipopolysaccharides, and Proclin® at 10 and 40 days of age, whereas, the
control group received two doses of saline solution. Blood samples were collected weekly
from kids age 10 to 66 days postpartum to measure the total and differential white blood
cell counts, the plasma IgG, IgA, and IgM levels, and the activities of the total and the alternative
complement systems. The white blood cell and the differential cell counts were the
same for both groups. No statistical differences were found for the plasma IgG, IgA, and
IgM concentrations. Complement system activity was undetectable in both groups. Summarizing,
the reputed immunostimulant did not affect the immune system of goats. Thus,
veterinarians should carefully consider whether it is prudent to recommended this kind of
product, because while it increases farmers’ expenses it apparently does not improve the
state of the innate immune system of the neonatal goat
