Colostrum for
Newborn Beef Calves

Beef calves can come in the middle in the night, during a blizzard, as twins, or though dystocia. We can be as prepared as possible, but things don’t always go as planned. You want live calves and the peace of mind knowing your newborns are off to the best start possible, so you can get on with your day (or night). Trust SCCL colostrum to be the staple in your calving kit this season. It’s convenient, it’s quick and most importantly, it works.

Colostrum for
Newborn Beef Calves

Beef calves can come in the middle in the night, during a blizzard, as twins, or though dystocia. We can be as prepared as possible, but things don’t always go as planned. You want live calves and the peace of mind knowing your newborns are off to the best start possible, so you can get on with your day (or night). Trust SCCL colostrum to be the staple in your calving kit this season. Its convenient, it’s quick and most importantly, it works.

Day 1: Defend

The first day of a beef calf’s life is so important. Since calves are born without any immunity, they require colostrum quickly after birth to achieve passive transfer of immunity. This is a narrow window of opportunity where calves are able to absorb antibodies that keep them healthy during early calfhood and help them defend against pathogens that can cause disease. Colostrum also provides them potent energy to withstand harsh environmental conditions and allows calves to thermoregulate.

When should I replace colostrum?

Most producers hope and assume their newborn calves will get up and nurse colostrum off the dam, but there are some scenarios where mother nature keeps that from happening.

Dystocia
Tough pulls or c-sections can leave you, the cow and her calf exhausted. Also, calves born via dystocia have reduced ability to absorb colostrum efficiently, so they require high volumes of highly concentrated colostrum. Quickly feed the newborn calf a full replacement feeding to ensure passive transfer of immunity.

Orphans
It doesn’t happen often, but there are times when a calf is left orphaned and needs to be fostered to a new cow or is kept a bottle calf. Regardless, those newborn calves require complete colostrum replacement within the first few hours after birth.

Extreme Cold Stress
Calves born in extremely cold weather often need to be brought in to warm up. Colostrum still needs to be fed quickly to maximize absorption and includes colostral fat that can aid in thermoregulation. Feed a complete colostrum replacer to cold-stressed calves.

Twins
Although twins are typically smaller calves, they still require at least 10% of their body weight in colostrum. Most cows can’t produce enough colostrum to provide a full feeding to each calf. You can either supplement both calves or feed a full replacement feeding to one.

Night-born Calves
Calves born in the middle of the night aren’t typically monitored as closely, yet they still require colostrum within the first few hours of life. To ensure night-born calves consume colostrum, we recommend feeding them a full replacement to get them up and on mom right away.

When should I supplement colostrum?

Sometimes newborn calves get some colostrum from the dam, but they still need a boost. Here are few situations where a supplement would be helpful to the calf.

First Calf Heifers
First-calf heifers typically produce lower volumes of colostrum, leaving their calves with a short feeding and the risk of failure passive transfer. Boost your calves born to first-calf heifers with a colostrum supplement.

Cold Stress
If your calves are chilled, but not extremely cold stressed or hypothermic, you can boost their energy with a colostrum supplement.

Slow to Stand and Suckle
Calves who a slow to get up and nurse of the cow are reducing their absorptive ability and are at greater risk failure passive transfer. If a calf doesn’t stand to nurse soon after birth, you should intervene by assisting its nursing or feed it a colostrum supplement to start its absorption of antibodies and to boost energy. You should notice the calf become more eager to stand and nurse.

Weak Calves
Similar to calves who are slow to stand and suckle, weak calves need assistance if they don’t nurse quickly. You can feed them a colostrum supplement to revitalize them and start their absorption of antibodies. If they don’t stand and nurse soon after, you can follow up with an additional feeding to completely replace colostrum.

We’ve developed a simple beef protocol to help you determine when your calf needs a colostrum supplement or replacer

What Our Customers Are Saying

“We absolutely love the colostrum! It mixes very well since it is so fine with the milk replacer and holds suspension even in a bottle. The calves dive into their milk, they don’t even notice it’s is there. We are treating less calves, but if we do treat a calf it responds to the medications faster . We typically do not have to retreat either. They take to calf starter faster, eat more, so increasing their rate of gain. Our weaned bull calves weigh more and look more muscled than before. Our vet bills have also gone down due to less antibiotics and farm calls. We have the lowest calf mortality we have ever had. It is definitely an investment, but the calf health is worth it! Adding in the SCCL colostrum was one of the best decisions we have made for our calf program!”

Jopp Century Farm

Minnesota, USA

“Successful use of colostrum for our clients. Trust that they are getting the right start for their stressed calves. Education on colostrum as the studies show. “

Minot Veterinary Clinic

North Dakota, USA

“Clients are liking this product. Have saved calves and assure them that they are getting enough colostrum. They are using this product every year. Excellent product.”

Sandcreek Animal Clinic

South Dakota, USA

“Wonderful, we have a customer that gives a bag of SCCL colostrum to each first calf heifer (2 year old) to help with scours and they seem to have a better jump start.”

Cowtown Ag

Montana, USA

“Our producers are more confident that they are doing what is needed for their calves. They are better prepared prior to calving and are seeing the results of having quality colostrum on hand or available when needed.”

Lester Prairie Vet Clinic

Minnesota, USA

“I have sold and used thousands of packages of SCCL colostrum replacer. Reasons I continue to use exclusive SCCL products: 1. They all mix very easily and the volumes are manageable. 2. In most circumstances the calves will drink the product out of a bottle (taste must be decent). 3. The products plain and simply fricken work, period. I have saved hundreds of my own calves and my clients have saved thousands with these products. 4. All products are milk/colostrum based and come from cows tested free from Johnes disease.”

Beefdoc LLC

Minnesota, USA

“Mixablility is great! Seems to have extra product in bag. Calves get up and go quick. Confident they’re getting the right amount of IgG with thi product. “

Britton Vet

South Dakota, USA

Beef Resources

We’ve created a variety of tools to help you learn more about colostrum, calves and SCCL. Our goal is to equip you with the the best resources to feel confident when feeding colostrum and making decisions in raising your calves.

Mixing and Feeding Tips

Watch video!

What temperature should my water be for optimal mixability?

Water temperature is extremely important when mixing colostrum. If the water is too cold, the solution becomes more challenging to mix and feed. However, if the water temperature is too hot, the antibodies in the colostrum powder can become denatured, lowering the IgG concentration and efficacy. To ensure both successful mixability and transfer of immunity, we recommend mixing powder with water at 110-120°F. Never microwave colostrum.

When should I consider tube feeding or bottle feeding?

Depending on the size of the calf, the rumen at birth has a capacity of approximately 1-2 L. It is important to feed enough volume, according on the birthweight of the calf, to induce overflow into the lower gastrointestinal tract. When tube feeding calves, one should feed between 3-4 L of colostrum to calves above 70 lbs. If a calf is below 70 lbs, one should feed between 2-3 L. If tube feeding 2 L, it is recommended to feed another feeding of 2-3 L 6-10 hours later.

How quickly should I feed colostrum to achieve passive transfer?

Calves have an immature immune system and limited energy reserves at birth. Colostrum gives them immunity and energy through colostral fat to adapt to the environment. If calves are slow to suckle, colostrum should be tube fed rather than allow more time to pass. We recommend feeding colostrum within the first 2 hours of life for maximum absorption, and a second feeding of colostrum within 8 hours later to assure 2 feedings within 12 hours.

How can I test my available on-farm colostrum?

Herd colostrum can be tested on-farm with a refractometer or by submitting it for Radial immunodiffusion (RID) testing in a lab. RID is the most accurate method for measuring colostrum quality, however the convenience of using a refractometer on-farm allows producers to decide if they should enrich, supplement or completely replace colostrum they have on hand.

How much colostrum do my calves need?

Calves have an immature immune system and limited energy reserves at birth. Colostrum gives them immunity and energy through colostral fat to adapt to the environment. If calves are slow to suckle, colostrum should be tube fed rather than allow more time to pass. We recommend feeding colostrum within the first 2 hours of life for maximum absorption, and a second feeding of colostrum within 8 hours later to assure 2 feedings within 12 hours.

The Colostrum Counsel

Expert advice for colostrum management practices

SCCL Collaborative Published Studies

Published studies proving the efficacy of our products and applications

Beyond Colostrum Podcast

The perfect platform for learning more about calf management when you just want to listen in

Video Library

Baby animals. Need we say more?!

Learning center includes:
The Colostrum Counsel, SCCL Collaborative Published Studies, Mixing and Feeding Tips, FAQ, Beyond Colostrum Podcasts, Video Library and more about Headstart Dairy.

SCCL Disclaimer for Continuing Education Courses & Related Content

Colostrum for Newborn Beef Calves

Colostrum for Newborn Beef Calves

Day 1: Defend

What Our Customers Are Saying

Beef Resources

The Colostrum Counsel

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SCCL Collaborative Published Studies

Beyond Colostrum Podcast

Video Library

Our Products

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Colostrum for
Newborn Beef Calves

Colostrum for
Newborn Beef Calves