Effect of two different pasteurization protocols in mare colostrum

Abstract

Neonatal foals are born agammaglobulinemic due to epitheliochorial nature of the equine placenta, making the timely ingestion of immunoglobulin-rich colostrum essential for passive immune transfer. However, colostrum may act as a vector for pathogens, particularly when stored or donated, thereby necessitating safe processing methods such as pasteurization. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of two thermal pasteurization protocols on immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in mare colostrum. Nine samples were subjected to low temperature (56ºC for 60 minutes) and high-temperature (63ºC for 30 minutes) treatments. IgG content was quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared to unpasteurized samples. Despite numerical reductions in IgG means post-treatment (30.3 mg/mL and 24.6 mg/mL, respectively) compared to raw colostrum (38.8mg/mL), statistical analysis reveals no significant differences. These findings suggest that both pasteurization methods preserve colostral IgG integrity while potentially enhancing biosecurity. The results support the application of gentle thermal treatment in equine colostrum without compromising immunological quality