The preweaning period is the riskiest time in a dairy calf’s life. Disease and death are most concentrated in these first weeks, and the consequences reach far beyond what’s visible at the time. Early-life illness doesn’t just create short-term costs — it fundamentally changes what that animal becomes. Calves that experience illness before weaning don’t just cost more to raise. Research consistently shows they grow slower, convert feed less efficiently, produce less milk as adults, get sick more often, are harder to treat, and are significantly more likely to be culled or die prematurely. The economic and welfare implications are compounding, farm-wide, and often invisible until the damage is already done.

Colostrum is natures first and most powerful nourishment for a calf, setting them up for short- and long-term health and productivity. Notably, the fat that is in colostrum (besides the obvious antibodies) is ESSENTIAL in getting calves up, excited to be alive and thriving through to weaning and as a member of the herd. Unfortunately, sometimes nature falls short. Heifers are notorious for poor quality or low quantity of colostrum, hot days discourage colostrum intake, twins can be slow to suck and compete for the same stock of colostrum and difficult calvings can mean weak suckle reflexes and stressed calves with a reduced ability to absorb the nutrients and bioactives from colostrum.

Colostrum has evolved alongside calves to serve as more than just an antibody bolus. It provides critical nutrients essential to survive the jarring transition from utero to the outside environment and delivers signals that tell tissues how to grow, differentiate and defend. This liquid gold is a calf’s first functional feed. It contributes to tissue growth, metabolism and disease resistance. Many of these effects are happening even before antibodies have even entered a calf’s circulation and last for weeks after the initial dose which have long-term implications on health and productivity. Missing out on this, means limiting a calf’s ability to reach its full potential.

Colostrum is the foundation of calf health. It provides the newborn calf with immunoglobulins through passive transfer that are essential for survival, disease resistance, and long-term performance. Decades of research have shown that calves with higher levels of passive immunity have lower risks of morbidity and mortality, improved growth, and better lifetime productivity. As a result, most dairy producers are well aware of the importance of feeding colostrum quickly and in sufficient volume after birth.

January 2026

We all dream to win the lottery, and I can proudly say I have.. unfortunately only a measly $4.00 of winnings. Not exactly the “jackpot”, it didn’t benefit my finances in any impactful way. We can think of calf colostrum management as the lottery as well. Are all your calves receiving colostrum? Is it excellent and maximally impactful? Like my lottery winnings, just receiving any colostrum does not mean a calf has received impactful nutrients and immunity. Luckily, unlike playing the lottery, we have control over the quantity, quality and impact of our colostrum management. Calves are born with no antibodies (the basis of what makes up an immune system) as they do not pass to the calf through the bovine placenta like they would in other animals.

December 2025
Neonatal Calf diarrhea (NCD), also known as scours, remains one of the most significant health challenges in pre-weaned calves contributing to high treatment rate, risk of death, and decreased future productivity on both dairy and beef operations. Even mild cases can have long-term impacts on growth and overall performance. While diarrhea is often seen as an unavoidable part of calf rearing, most outbreaks can be linked to management factors that can be improved with the right attention to detail.

Here are 4 steps you can take when dealing with diarrhea to improve calf outcomes:

1. Review colostrum management. Ensure the colostrum being fed has at least 50g of immunoglobulins (IgG) per liter and limit bacterial contamination through clean handling practices such as feeding as soon as possible and IgG safe pasteurization (140 °F or 60 °C for 60 min). Calves should receive colostrum within the first 6 hours after birth.