What determines how well a newborn lamb will grow? Research from the Estonian University of Life Sciences shows that the answer lies in the very first days of life, and more specifically, in the first meal: colostrum. PhD student Maëlle Beck presented this research in the „Science in Three Minutes“ competition.
Lambs are born with almost no immune protection and depend entirely on colostrum to acquire their first defenses against disease. It has long been known that colostrum contains antibodies that help fight infections. However, new research reveals that colostrum is far more complex than previously thought, and its effects depend not only on individual components but also on how they interact.
Over the course of three years, nearly 300 lambs were studied. Researchers analyzed both colostrum composition and blood indicators after the lambs were born. The results confirmed that higher antibody levels in colostrum support better growth. At the same time, an unexpected relationship was discovered with inflammatory proteins: when certain inflammatory markers were elevated in colostrum, lambs had fewer antibodies in their blood, indicating weaker immune protection.
These findings suggest that colostrum quality cannot be assessed based on a single indicator alone. Instead, it is the balance of multiple components that influences animal health and development. This has important implications for farmers, as early health challenges can lead to slower growth and increased costs.
This short lecture explores how the hidden complexity of colostrum can shape future health and why the very first meal may matter more than we ever realized. Watch the full talk here:
Maëlle Beck earned the first prize with her lecture at the short lecture competition “Science in Three Minutes”. Her PhD dissertation supervisors are lecturer in evidence-based veteriary medicine Marina Erm, professor in clinical veterinary medicine Toomas Orro and lecturer in small animal medicine Kristel Peetsalu.
“Science in Three Minutes” is a short scientific presentation format aimed at explaining complex research topics in a simple and accessible way within a limited time. It is the Estonian version of the international competition “Three Minute Thesis (3MT)”.
Read more about the Estonian University of Life Sciences competition and watch the best presentations herelink opens in new page.
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Junior Research Fellow in Immunology of Ruminants
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences
Chair of Clinical Veterinary Medicine
