Question

High whey protein content in colostrum is mainly contributed by____________

• A. Alpha lactalbumin
• B. Bovine serum albumin
• C. Immunoglobulins
• D. Beta lactoglobulin

Hint:

Colostrum is biologically designed to deliver passive immunity. This explains why it is packed with immunoglobulins, which make up the bulk of its total whey protein.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mammary gland immediately after parturition. It is highly concentrated in bioactive proteins that provide passive immunity to the newborn.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Bovine colostrum contains up to \(15\%\) total protein, compared to about \(3.3\%\) in mature milk.
- This high protein concentration is primarily due to a massive increase in the whey protein fraction.
- This elevation is driven by immunoglobulins (specifically IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and IgM), which are actively transported from the maternal bloodstream into the mammary gland during late gestation.
- These immunoglobulins protect the newborn calf from infections during its first weeks of life.
- Other whey proteins like \(\alpha\)-lactalbumin and \(\beta\)-lactoglobulin are present, but their concentrations do not show the same massive, disproportional increase as immunoglobulins.

Step 3: Final Answer
The high whey protein content of colostrum is primarily contributed by immunoglobulins.