When should I replace with a colostrum powder?

Colostrum should be replaced or supplemented to calves at high risk for not receiving adequate colostrum, facing environmental stress, or born to dams that are unable or unlikely to provide timely colostrum. These scenarios include: Dystocia - after hard pulls or c-sections, cows and calves are exhausted and unmotivated to promote suckling, and due to the stress of dystocia calves also have a reduced capacity to absorb the antibodies and bioactives in colostrum, meaning they require high volumes of highly concentrated colostrum to achieve successful transfer of immunity; a full replacement of powdered colostrum should be fed (bottle or tubed) immediately after a difficult calving. Risk of hypothermia - the fat in colostrum is designed specifically to support the energy needs of a calf early in life, and after birth calves have minimal energy stores while extreme cold or extreme heat requires energy for thermoregulation, so colostrum should be completely replaced when there are extremely cold temperatures or calves are showing signs of hypothermia. Twins - although twins are typically smaller calves, they still require 8-10% of their body weight in high quality colostrum, and most cows are not producing enough colostrum to adequately feed both calves, so both can be supplemented or one can be removed and fed a full replacement. Night-born calves - calves born in the middle of the night are typically not monitored as closely but still require colostrum in the first few hours of life, so SCCL recommends feeding a full replacement to night-born calves to ensure nothing gets missed. Orphan calves - when calves are left orphaned early in life they will require a full replacement of colostrum as they will not have access to their dam.

When should colostrum be supplemented?

Calves of first calf heifers. Cold or heat stress - newborn calves can face risk of cold stress and hypothermia at temperatures as high as 13 degrees Celsius (55 F) and heat stress at temperatures as low as 25 degrees Celsius (77 F); these stresses can result in reduced suckling behaviour despite calves having a higher energy demand for thermoregulation, so colostrum supplementation provides nutrients and energy to support them through environmental stress. Weak calves or calves slow to stand or suckle - timing is critical for maximum absorption of the immunity and nutrients uniquely found in colostrum, and calves who are slow to nurse are reducing their absorptive ability and are at greater risk of not absorbing essential antibodies, so intervene by assisting nursing or supplementing colostrum via tube to provide the energy calves need to get up and get going.

How should I prepare my colostrum management leading up to calving season?

Producers should prepare by having enough powdered colostrum to supplement 10% of their herd. Have at least 2 tubes, one for colostrum administration and one for sick calves to avoid cross-contamination. Have a temperature controlled water bath to defrost frozen colostrum. Ensure your feeding equipment cleaning protocol is revised and understood by all staff. Colostrum equipment checklist: nipples, bottles, tube feeder, whisk, thermometer, clean buckets, clean water source, and 1% chlorinated alkaline clean in place (CIP) detergent.

How do I make sure my colostrum is the right temperature when feeding in the field?

Colostrum should be fed at 39 C (102 F). Mix colostrum powder with water at 43-49 C (110-120 F) and then transport the bottle or tube feeder in an insulated container (bag or cooler), wrapping in a towel or keeping it in your jacket close to your body, to ensure minimal heat is lost between mixing and feeding, which should ensure colostrum is fed at an optimal temperature. Never microwave colostrum.

Is there any difference between tube and bottle feeding colostrum?

Method of feeding has been shown to not have an impact on a calf's ability to absorb antibodies from colostrum. Volume is key with colostrum delivery, so ensure you are feeding 8-10% of calf body weight. As a rule of thumb, feed 3-4L of colostrum to calves above 70lbs or 2-3L if they are below 70lbs. This applies to both powdered and maternal colostrum.

How do I know if my maternal colostrum is high quality?

If milking from the dam to feed a calf and you are questioning quality, you can test maternal colostrum with a Brix refractometer. Anything below 25% Brix should be replaced with excess maternal colostrum collected from another cow on your farm or from SCCL powdered colostrum products. Veterinarians do not recommend utilizing colostrum from other ranches, farms or dairy farms due to risk of disease transmission.

Better Colostrum. Better Beef.

While beef cows generally produce high-quality colostrum, successful absorption of immunity still depends on calves nursing quickly after birth, a window that can easily be missed. SCCL's science-backed colostrum solutions provide reliable support when intervention is needed, helping improve early-life health, reduce treatment requirements, and build stronger, more productive beef herds.

Nature's Calf Health Support - From Day 1 to Recovery

SCCL colostrum solutions are designed to enhance what nature does best by providing consistent colostrum support whenever calves need it most. Whether supplementing in the first hours of life after emergency or environmental stressors to ensure immunity transfer, or providing therapeutic support during scours to rebuild gut health, SCCL helps protect the health and value of every calf.

Replacement

Completely replacing maternal colostrum with a colostrum product. Use when dam colostrum is unavailable, insufficient in quality or quantity or when calf is unable to suckle on their own.

Maternal colostrum is unavailable or inaccessible
Calf is not suckling or standing on their own
Maternal colostrum quality is below 25% Brix

Supplement

Feeding a colostrum product in addition to available maternal colostrum. Supplement weak calves, calves who underwent difficult births, are a twin or when there is risk of heat or cold stress.

These recommendations are developed based on research and veterinary expertise and adapted for practical application. For specific recommendations tailored to your operation, consult your animal health team.

Day One Colostrum Guide

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"The first two hours are so important and the amount of effort we put in just to get that calf on the ground in the first place, going all the way back to how we manage the cows to the breeding program, embryo transfer program, we want that call we want the calf to get the best start it possibly can. [Powdered colostrum] just gives us peace of mind"

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Colostrum Education and Resources

SCCL is a trusted leader in colostrum management, bringing together the latest research, expert perspectives, and practical on-farm guidance to support producers and veterinarians. Through articles, webinars, podcasts, videos, and educational resources, we help turn science into informed decision making and healthier animals.

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Explore our library of how-to videos, podcasts, webainars and producer success stories for practical, science-backed insights into beef colostrum management. Explore our every growing video library.

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Published Studies

For over 30 years SCCL has worked with research partners and institutions to advance industry knowledge on colostrogenesis, the bioactive action of colostrum and precision calf health management. Explore published articles funded by or featuring SCCL colostrum.

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Colostrum should be replaced or supplemented to calves at high risk for not receiving adequate colostrum, facing environmental stress or born to dams that are unable or unlikely to provide timely colostrum. These scenarios include:

Dystocia
- After hard pulls or c-sections, cows and calves are exhausted and will be unmotivated to promote suckling. Due to the stress of dystocia, calves also have a reduce capacity to absorb the antibodies and bioactives in colostrum meaning they require high volumes of highly concentrated colostrum in order to achive successful transfer of immunity. A full replacement of powdered colostrum should be fed (bottle or tubed) immediately after a difficult calving.
Risk of hypothermia
- The fat in colostrum, also referred to as colostral fat, is designed specifically to support the energy needs of a calf early in life. After birth calves have minimal energy stores and extreme cold or extreme heat requires energy for thermoregulation. Completely replace colostrum when there is extremely cold temperatures or calves are showing signs of hypothermia
Twins
- Although twins are typically smaller calves, they still require 8-10% of their body weight in high quality colostrum. Most cows are not producing enough colostrum to adequately feed both calves therefore both can be supplemented or one can be removed and fed a full replacement.
Night-born calves
- Calves born in the middle of the night are typically not monitored as closely but still require colostrum in the first few hours of life. To ensure nothing gets missed, SCCL recommends feeding a full replacement to night-born calves.
Orphan calves
- When calves are left orphaned early in life they will require a full replacement of colostrum as they will not have access from their dam.

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When Nature Falls Short, Be Ready

An Essential Part of Every Calving Kit

Keep SCCL colostrum on hand as a trusted safeguard for the moments that matter most. As close to nature as possible and optimized with science, our colostrum solutions help you respond with confidence when calves need extra support, protecting the health, value, and future performance of every calf.

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