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.

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.