Özet:

Colostrum or first milk is a life elixir, which is produced by mammary glands within 2-3 days following parturition and contains immunoglobulins, enzymes, growth and biological factors besides nutrients for neonate. Ruminants are unable to transmit antibody substances during the pregnancy due to the nature of the epitheliochorial placenta. It is stated that if neonates do not take colostrum within the first few hours following birth, there will be a delay in the establishment of the mother-neonate relationship, a decline in growth performance and an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Colostrum also plays a vital role in the regulation of both the digestive system and the body cell division, which is termed second programming in the neonatal life; first programming takes place at embryonal life. Colostrum intake is important for morphological and functional developments of intestinal epithelium in ruminants. So, colostrum consumed in the first few days of life strengthens the defense mechanism of the newborn against diseases and it is a regulatory factor on the survivability, productivity and healthy during the postnatal period. In this review, the importance of the colostrum will be emphasized.

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