Frequently Asked Questions

Neonatal mortality commonly ranges between 10–30% for lambs and 2-11% for calves with up to 50% of deaths occurring during the first day postpartum. Main causes are related to infectious disease, birth trauma, and hypothermia. Early-life nutrition and a structured colostrum protocol improve short- and long-term ADG and survival.  Colostrum remains the management tool with the most opportunity to be adjusted and optimized to improve calf health and outcomes (Edwards et al., 2026) 

Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals immediately after giving birth. Unlike regular milk, it is naturally concentrated with immune-supporting antibodies, growth factors, bioactive compounds, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and oligosaccharides that are specifically designed to support the health and development of the newborn. While regular milk primarily provides nutrition for growth, colostrum delivers both nutrition and biological components that help establish immunity, support gut development, and prepare the newborn for life outside the womb.

Colostrum contains hundreds of naturally occurring bioactive components that work together to support calf health. Among the most important are immunoglobulin G (IgG), the primary antibody responsible for transferring passive immunity and protecting calves, lambs and kids during their first weeks of life; growth factors, which support the development and repair of the digestive tract and other tissues; oligosaccharides, which promote a healthy gut microbiome and help prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to the intestinal lining; and colostral fat, a highly digestible source of energy that also stimulates thermoregulation to aid calves during cold and heat stress. Together with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other bioactive compounds, these components provide comprehensive support for immunity, gut health, growth, and overall development.

Herd colostrum may be unsafe because of the presence of infectious diseases such as Johne's, BVD, BLV, Salmonella, and others.
Quantity or quality of available colostrum may be highly variable.
Not enough labour to properly collect, test, store, and feed herd colostrum.
In high value or high-risk calves with circumstances such as dystocia or cold temperature, calves need extra, good quality colostrum fast that’s high in immunoglobulins and natural colostral fat.
To assure every calf receives their first feed as soon as possible after birth to cover energy and immunity needs.

Passive transfer of immunity refers to the process by which newborn calves acquire antibodies, specifically immunoglobulins, from colostrum rather than from their mother during gestation. Unlike humans, calves are born without circulating maternal antibodies due to the structure of their placenta, which prevents the transfer of immunoglobulins from the dam to the fetus. The ability for a calf to absorb the antibodies from colostrum declines rapidly, with a significant reduction after 12 hours.
This process is essential for calf health, as it provides immediate protection against infectious diseases and supports the development of the immune system. Failure of passive transfer (FTPI) can lead to increased risks of mortality, respiratory disease, diarrhea, and overall morbidity, as well as reduced growth and productivity.
Ensuring timely and adequate colostrum intake is critical for the successful passive transfer of immunity and optimal calf health and development.

Learn More About Passive Immunity in Calf Health and Development

Failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) occurs when a newborn calf does not absorb enough antibodies (primarily immunoglobulin G, or IgG) from colostrum during the first hours of life. Because calves are born without a fully developed immune system, they rely on these maternal antibodies for protection until their own immune system matures.
Calves that experience FTPI are at greater risk of disease, treatment, mortality, reduced growth, and poorer lifetime performance. The best way to prevent FTPI is by feeding an adequate volume of clean, high-quality colostrum as soon as possible after birth. Research also shows that achieving higher levels of passive immunity than the historical minimum recommendations leads to improved health and productivity throughout the calf's life.

Learn More About Passive Immunity in Calf Health and Development

Always follow the instructions on your product’s label for correct water volume and recommended dose. Use water at a temperature of 43-49°C (110-120°F) for optimal mixability. If water is too cold, mixing becomes difficult and does not provide warmth for the calf. If water is too hot, colostrum can be damaged, lowering its efficacy.
Never microwave colostrum, as this damages antibodies.

Watch a Video on How to Mix

Remember the 5 Qs - Quickly, Quality, Quanity, sQueaky Clean and Quantify. Most colostrum programs do not fail due to one large oversight but cutting corners in the basics that lead to unintended consequences. Remember to: 
Feed colostrum within 2 hours of birth 
Ensure colostrum is at least 25% Brix or contains 50-70g/L of IgG 
Feed 8-10% of body weight in colostrum - supplement or replace with SCCL colostrum powder if you do not have enough clean and good quality colostrum to supply this. 
Ensure all feeding equipment is clean and will not introduce pathogens or negative bacteria to a newborn animal 
Test calves regularly and be sure your colostrum program is working at least 70% of calves should be within the good or excellent range for passive transfer of immunity. 

Supplementing is when a colostrum product is fed in addition to available maternal colostrum. While replacing refers to completely substituting maternal colostrum with a colostrum product. Cases you would supplement include: 

• High risk for environmental stress (cold or heat)

• Weak calves

• Is a twin or a multiple

• Quality maternal colostrum is available but there is not enough of it 

Cases you would replace include: 

• Orphaned calves

• Calf is unable to stand or suckle

• Maternal colostrum is unavailable or is of too poor quality 

Feed colostrum as soon as possible after a calf born. SCCL experts and industry leaders recommend feeding within a 2 to 6 hour window following calving for optimal antibody and nutrient absorption. 

Research shows there is no difference in IgG absorption when colostrum is fed via bottle or tube feeder. The key is getting enough quality colostrum into a calf as quickly as possible. If a calf is willing to suckle, colostrum can be fed by bottle. If calves are slow to suckle, colostrum should be tube fed rather than allow more time to pass. 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 6-8 hours later.

After collecting and testing your own colostrum with a Brix refractometer or hydrometer, colostrum that is not going to be used for immediate feeding can be stored in two different ways; cooled in the refrigerator or frozen in a freezer. If the colostrum is going to be fed later in the day or within 24 hours, it can be refrigerated between 1 to 1.5°C (33 to 35°F). If the colostrum is not going to be used before 24 hours, it can be frozen within the first hour of collection at -20 to -21°C (-5°F). This colostrum could be used safely for about 6 months, and some would argue that it can be used for up to a year. It is important to remember that repeated freeze thaw cycles dramatically damage and affect the functional antibodies in colostrum and therefore life span of the frozen colostrum is reduced.
For powdered colostrum, SCCL products are shelf stable for up to 3 years but should be fed immediately after being mixed with water. 

Yes, there can be benefits from feeding smaller amounts of colostrum after day one. Colostrum can be fed after the first day of life to improve gastrointestinal health and promote growth for improve calf health and prodiuctivity. Naturally, cows continue producing smaller amounts of colostrum after a calf is born referred to as transition milk. This natural phenomenon can be mimicked by adding colostrum powder to the calf’s whole milk or milk replacer diet for the first two weeks of life. Carter et al. 2022, and emerging studies also report that colostrum can be used during the preweaning period as a therapy for neonatal diarrhea and stressful events to restore gut health and improve recovery times. 

SCCL offers a line of products that vary in IgG concentration. All are safe and sufficient at treating failure of passive transfer. Refer to our products page to see what is available in your region. The highest concentration products should be reserved for day 1 full replacement of maternal colostrum, emergency supplementation, enrichment and for high value calves. Lower concentration products are optimal for full replacement, transition feeding, enrichment, restore and supplementation. 

Yes, all of our products are sufficient to replace or supplement maternal colostrum. The difference in products will only be IgG concentration. More or less colostrum powder can be fed in order to achieve fed IgG goals on day 1, during transition feeding and restoring gut health following stressful or neonatal diarrhea events. 

Yes, SCCL powdered colostrum products can also be fed to lamb and kids. Recommendations differ between calves and lambs and kids and should be considered before feeding. Learn more on our Lambs and Kids Page

At SCCL we are proud to offer whole bovine colostrum, meaning our product is spray-dried maternal colostrum, never fractioned, containing the natural colostral fat, proteins and IgGs that have evolved to be the most impactful to successfully achieve passive transfer of immunity. Our whole bovine colostrum means just that, we never add alternative protein, energy, fat or nutrient sources to allow nature to do what nature does best with the power of science. 

 SCCL offers an OMRI-certified product, Pure Start (available in the United States only). SCCL recommends that producers consult their local organic certification body prior to use to confirm compliance requirements and ensure continued eligibility for organic certification.

With precision calf management and modern dairy farming systems, there is more opportunity than ever to standardize and optimize maternal colostrum management using whole bovine powdered colostrum from day one and throughout the preweaning period. Starting day one, producers are encouraged to have powdered colostrum on hand to provide the essential nutrients designed by nature to support early life health and development when maternal colostrum needs to be replaced or supplemented (i.e. poor quality colostrum, unavailable, twins) or when calves' capacity for absorption is low (i.e. dystocia, cold stress). Colostrum powder can also be used as enrichment, to add IgG to poor quality (<22% Brix) colostrum. SCCL recommends bringing maternal colostrum to 25% Brix (70g IgG/L) to support successful passive transfer. Finally, SCCL's whole bovine powdered colostrum can be used to restore gut health and improve recovery times during stressful events, and neonatal calf diarrhea. Colostrum is a tool.

Calves are born with almost no energy reserves, and the demands hit immediately — standing, thermoregulating, and keeping vital organs running, often in cold or unpredictable calving conditions. The fat in colostrum provides a fast, readily available fuel source that activates non-shivering thermogenesis — the calf's primary mechanism for generating body heat in the hours after birth — giving it the energy it needs to stand, nurse, and maintain a stable core body temperature even under environmental stress. Beyond heat production, colostral fat is the vehicle for fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which play critical roles in early immune function, tissue development, and oxidative defense during the neonatal period. In short, colostral fat is not simply a macronutrient — it is a precisely calibrated, biologically timed energy and nutrient system that supports the calf's survival and development when it is at its most vulnerable.

High-risk calves — those born from difficult deliveries, as twins, or into cold stress — face a compounding set of disadvantages that make timely, high-quality colostrum delivery critical to survival. Dystocia-related acidosis and hypoxia impair the gut's ability to absorb immunoglobulins, cold stress diverts energy away from the active transport mechanisms responsible for IgG uptake, and twin calves must share a colostrum supply designed for one — with the weaker twin frequently outcompeted at the teat and at risk of receiving far less than the 150–200g of IgG needed to achieve adequate passive transfer. For all three groups, assisted and measured colostrum feeding within the first two hours of birth is the single most important intervention a producer or veterinarian can make.

The fundamental principles of colostrum management — timing, volume, quality, and cleanliness — apply equally to both sexes, as there is no meaningful biological difference in IgG requirements or susceptibility to failure of passive transfer between heifers and bulls. The same rigorous colostrum standards should be applied to every calf whether a heifer, bull or beef on dairy cross. 

A successful colostrum protocol starts with knowing where you currently stand — benchmarking your herd's passive transfer success rates using serum total protein or Brix refractometry gives you a baseline to measure against and helps identify where the biggest gaps in your current system are. From there, the 5 Qs — Quality, Quantity, Quickly, sQueaky clean, and Quantify — provide a practical framework for standardization, but implementation only works if the people delivering colostrum understand the why behind each step, not just the how. Finally, record-keeping is non-negotiable: tracking colostrum quality scores, feeding times, volumes delivered, and subsequent calf health outcomes is what turns a protocol on paper into a program that improves over time.

Cows with shorter dry periods, poor nutritional status in the close-up period, or inadequate vaccination programs heading into calving tend to produce colostrum with lower IgG levels, while premature milking or leaking colostrum before calving can dramatically reduce both volume and immunoglobulin concentration. Parity also plays a role — first-calf heifers consistently produce lower quality colostrum than mature cows — and any colostrum with a Brix reading below 22% or IgG concentration below 50 g/L should be considered inadequate for feeding without supplementation or replacement with a high-quality colostrum replacer.

Fresh colostrum stored in a refrigerator at 4°C (39°F) should be used within 24 hours, as bacterial contamination can increase rapidly beyond this window and directly compromise both colostrum quality and passive transfer success in the calf. For longer-term storage, freezing at -20°C (-4°F) is the gold standard — properly frozen colostrum can maintain IgG integrity for up to 12 months when stored in clearly labelled, sealed containers of 1–2 litres for easy thawing. When thawing frozen colostrum, temperature control is critical: never use a microwave or boiling water, as temperatures exceeding 60°C (140°F) will denature IgG and destroy heat-sensitive bioactive compounds — instead, use a warm water bath at 43–49°C (110–120°F) and feed immediately once thawed.