Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a colostrum supplement or replacer?
- Herd colostrum may be unsafe because of the presence of infectious diseases such as Johnes, 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.
What should you look for in a colostrum replacer?
Colostrum products should be made from actual whole bovine colostrum. Many products on the market are a combination of many ingredients that attempt to mimic maternal colostrum. There should be a single ingredient on the label: bovine colostrum. The product should also contain true colostral fat. Fats and oils from other sources do not provide the same benefits to the calf. In one study, calves fed defatted colostrum replacer had a 50% increase in respiratory disease in the first 90 days of life and a 6% increase in mortality. They also had lower rectal temperatures and spent less time standing and more time in a lying position.
I know that calves can only absorb colostral immunity from the intestines into the blood for the first 24 hours after birth. Is there any benefit to feeding colostrum after day one?
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 to create a healthier, more productive calf. Naturally, cows continue producing smaller amounts of colostrum after a calf is born, so this application mimics that transition milk by adding colostrum powder to the calf’s whole milk or milk replacer diet for the first two weeks of life. In situations where diarrhea is a problem, the immunoglobulins will provide local immunity in the intestines to restore gut health.
Which risk factors contribute to the dam producing poor quality colostrum and ultimately lead to failure of passive transfer in calves?
- First calf heifers
- Heat stress, cold stress
- Poor teat or udder confirmation
- Leaked colostrum from the udder before calving
- Produces a very small volume of colostrum
- Nervous, poor mothering instinct, or rejects calf
- Slow recovery from calving, or ill
- Genetic differences in colostrum quality
- Poor nutrition
How long can you store your own colostrum?
- 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.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the “first milk” from the milking immediately after a cow has calved.
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 colostrum can be damaged. To ensure easy mixability and to meet the body temperature of the calf, we recommend mixing powder with water at 110-120°F (43-49◦C). Never microwave colostrum as this can will also damage the colostrum.
When should I consider tube feeding or bottle feeding?
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.
How quickly should I feed colostrum?
We recommend feeding colostrum within the first 2 hours of life for maximum absorption, and a second feeding of colostrum should be fed within 6-8 hours to assure 2 feedings within 12 hours. If calves are slow to suckle, colostrum should be tube fed rather than allow more time to pass.
Additional Tips
Feeding additional amounts is recommended for high-risk calves.
Storage: store out of direct sunlight and in a dry location at or below 77F. Do not mix with other products.