[Agamma-, hypogamma- and hypergammaglobulinemia. The significance of the 'relative immune status' for the young calf].

Calves affected with hypergammaglobulinaemia are more likely to survive than are those with agamma- or hypogammaglobulinaemia. Nevertheless, there are farms on which satisfactory results are obtained in rearing calves with low Ig levels. Management conditions, including the presence of specific or non-specific, bacterial or viral infections, are important factors in these cases. Besides humoral immunity, local protection against neonatal diarrhoea afforded by colostrum, is of even greater importance. As the concentrations of Ig in young calves decrease, production of immunity in these calves will start earlier in life, which may even be within a few days.