Characterization of lyophilized equine colostrum.
Authors: de Lima Thatyane Carla, de Sobral Gilvannya Gonçalves, de França Queiroz Alana Emilia Soares, Chinelate Gerla Castello Branco, Porto Tatiana Souza, Oliveira João Tiago Correia, Carneiro Gustavo Ferrer
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Lyophilized Equine Colostrum: A Viable Storage Alternative Failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTIP) remains a significant concern in neonatal foal health, making reliable colostrum storage methods essential for veterinary and breeding operations. Researchers in Brazil evaluated whether lyophilisation—a freeze-drying process—could preserve the immunological and physical properties of equine colostrum as effectively as conventional freezing, analysing 31 Quarter Horse mares' colostrum samples for immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, Brix refractometry readings, and comprehensive physicochemical composition including protein, fat, lactose, salt content, total solids, density, and pH. Lyophilisation resulted in minimal IgG loss of only 6.55% when measured by simple radial immunodiffusion (SRID), with no significant differences detected in fat, lactose, salts, total solids, density, or pH between frozen and lyophilised samples, though Brix readings and total protein values did differ between the two preservation methods. Strong positive correlations emerged between colostrum density and IgG concentration (r = 0.76) and between Brix refractometry and IgG concentration (r = 0.77), whilst rehydration of lyophilised samples proved straightforward and the reconstituted product remained stable. For practitioners managing colostrum banking programmes, lyophilisation offers a compelling alternative to freezing—particularly valuable where long-term storage space or temperature stability is problematic—though practitioners should note that Brix refractometry may require recalibration when assessing lyophilised colostrum quality compared to fresh or frozen samples.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Lyophilization offers a viable long-term storage alternative to freezing for equine colostrum, potentially improving accessibility for foals at risk of FTIP when maternal colostrum is unavailable
- •Brix refractometry and colostrum density can serve as practical field-applicable surrogate measures for predicting IgG concentration without requiring laboratory analysis
- •Lyophilized colostrum powder reconstitutes easily and maintains stability, making it a practical shelf-stable option for emergency colostrum supplementation protocols on farms
Key Findings
- •Lyophilization resulted in only 6.55% reduction in IgG concentration measured by SRID, with no significant differences in IgG, fat, lactose, salts, total solids, density, or pH between frozen and lyophilized samples
- •Strong positive correlations observed between colostrum density and IgG concentration (r = 0.76) and between Brix refractometry and IgG concentration (r = 0.77)
- •Lyophilized colostrum was easily reconstituted in water with full dilution and remained stable, demonstrating effective rehydration capability
- •Lyophilization is a highly efficient preservation method for mare colostrum with minimal loss of immunological and physicochemical properties