Vara Martínez, Juan Ángel de laBerruga, María IsabelPérez Serrano, MartinaLópez Cano, EmilioGarcía Díaz, Andrés JoséLandete Castillejos, TomásGallego, LaureanoArgüello Henríquez, AnastasioCarmona Delgado, ManuelMolina Casanova, Ana María2020-06-192020-06-192020Vara Martínez, J. A. de la, Berruga, M. I., Pérez Serrano, M., López Cano, E., García Díaz, A. J., Landete-Castillejos, T., Gallego, L., Argüello Henríquez, A., Carmona Delgado, M., & Molina Casanova, A. (2020). Short communication: Red deer (Cervus elaphus) colostrum during its transition to milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(6), 5662–5667. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-177790022-03021525-3198http://hdl.handle.net/11268/8971We studied changes in chemical composition, somatic cell count, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) content in red deer (Cervus elaphus) colostrum during the transition to milk at different times after parturition (<5 h, 24 h, 48 h, 2 wk, and 4 wk). The production level was higher at 2 and 4 wk of lactation than during the first day after parturition, with intermediate values at 48 h postpartum. Fat content did not vary during the study period. However, total protein and casein contents were particularly high in the initial 5 h after parturition, decreasing to approximately 50% after 24 h postpartum. Conversely, lactose concentration was low in the beginning (<5 h), increasing gradually throughout the study. Similarly, dry matter dropped during the first 24 h and then remained constant throughout the study. Urea content decreased during the study, showing a slight recovery at 4 wk. Somatic cell count was higher during the first hours after parturition and gradually decreased throughout the study period. The IgG content was higher before 5 h postpartum than at 24 h postpartum. After 5 h, the level of IgG decreased progressively until it reached 0.18 mg/mL at 4 wk of lactation. We observed a similar pattern for IgM content, but it decreased more quickly than IgG and was not detected after 2 wk. In the case of deer, milk should be considered transitional from 24 to 48 h after parturition, and samples collected after 2 wk can be considered mature milk.engjournal article10.3168/jds.2019-17779restricted accessCiervosNutriciónIndustria lácteaNutrición animalIndustria lecheraQuímica orgánica