CHAPTER II 



COLOSTRUM 



Beginning a few days before and continuing for sev- 

 eral days after parturition, the udder secretes a substance 

 called "colostrum," which differs in many respects from 

 milk. This fluid is intended for the nourishment of the 

 calf during the first days of life outside of the uterus of 

 the mother. It contains a very high per cent, of albumi- 

 nous compounds in a form in which they can be readily ab- 

 sorbed from the digestive tract of the young animal. It 

 also contains protective substances from the mother 

 (Engel) , which are of value in maintaining health (Im- 

 misch), and it has a laxative action upon the bowels of 

 the calf, which results in the removal of the meconium. 



Physical Properties. Colostrum is of a yellowish, 

 reddish-yellow, or brownish color; of a thick, slimy, sticky 

 or "stringy" consistency, with a peculiar unpleasant odor 

 and a salty taste. The yellowish color is due to the pres- 

 ence of fat globules, which are frequently clumped to- 

 gether, while the reddish or brownish tinge is due to 

 the presence of red-blood cells or blood. Containing a 

 much greater per cent, of solids than milk, its specific 

 gravity is naturally much higher, ranging from 1.040 

 to 1.080 and even up to 1.090. 



Chemical Properties. 'Albumin and globulin are 

 present in colostrum in considerably greater quantity 

 than in milk. Nuclein compounds are also to be found 

 in larger proportion. There is less casein and sugar, 

 about the same per cent, of extractives, but a greater 



proportion of mineral salts. The analysis, as given by 



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