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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.

Despite this awareness, consistent passive immunity outcomes remain difficult to achieve on many farms. Even herds with strong colostrum management programs continue to see variability in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations among calves. This inconsistency is often frustrating, particularly when recommended best practices for timing and volume are being followed.

A key reason for this challenge is that maternal colostrum itself is highly variable. Colostrum quality can differ substantially between cows, between calvings within the same cow, and even within the same herd on the same day. Much of this variability is driven by biological and physiological factors that are difficult, and in some cases impossible, to fully control. As a result, relying solely on maternal colostrum without a strategy to manage this variability can expose calves to higher risk of failed transfer of passive immunity.

What determines colostrum quality?

Colostrum quality is most commonly defined by its IgG concentration, as IgG is the primary antibody responsible for passive immunity in the newborn calf. While colostrum volume, cleanliness, and bacterial load are also important, IgG concentration remains the key determinant of how much immunity a calf ultimately absorbs.

The concentration of IgG in colostrum is influenced by a wide range of biological and management factors, including parity, dry cow management, and timing of colostrum collection.

Parity. Parity is one of the most consistent drivers of colostrum quality. Multiparous cows not only produce a greater volume of colostrum, but their colostrum typically contains higher concentrations of IgG and total protein and lower fat concentrations compared with that of first-calf heifers.

Dry cow management. Short dry periods, typically defined as less than 47 to 51 days, have been associated with reduced colostrum volume, likely due to impaired mammary cell growth or altered mammary gland function during the formation of colostrum. Prepartum nutrition, particularly energy balance and micronutrient status, can further influence immune function and colostrum synthesis. Environmental stressors, such as heat stress during late gestation, have also been associated with reduced colostrum quality.

Timing of colostrum collection. Immunoglobulin concentrations decline rapidly after calving as colostrum transitions toward mature milk. Delays in first milking, even by only a few hours, can substantially reduce IgG concentration. In fact, IgG concentration in colostrum decreases by ~4% for every one-hour delay in collection after calving.

Many of these factors interact and vary from cow to cow. Even under excellent management, it is not realistic to expect uniform colostrum quality across all calvings. This variability is not a reflection of poor management, but rather a biological reality of colostrum production.

How variable is maternal colostrum?

The extent of colostrum quality variability observed in commercial dairy herds is substantial. In a study in 2019, Dr. Sandra Godden at the University of Minnesota defined high quality colostrum as containing more than 50 g of IgG per liter. Using this standard, multiple studies have shown that a considerable proportion of colostrum fails to meet this threshold. A large study from the United States involving 104 dairy farms across 13 states found that 23% of colostrum samples were classified as poor quality (containing less than 50 g IgG/L). Similar findings have been reported in a study of 18 dairy farms in New York State, where between 20 and 24% of colostrum samples were considered poor quality, depending on cow parity.

Other production systems show even greater variability. In a study of 21 pasture-based dairy farms in Ireland, 44% of colostrum samples contained less than 50 g IgG/L, highlighting the challenges of consistently achieving high-quality colostrum in grazing systems. Canadian data shows comparable variability. A study conducted in Quebec collected colostrum samples from 51 dairy herds, and found the average IgG concentration was just above the commonly used threshold at 56 g/L. However, the distribution was wide, with IgG concentrations ranging from approximately 21 g/L to 97 g/L. Taken together, these findings suggest that ¼  to 1/5 colostrum feedings may fall below recommended quality benchmarks.

This variability means that two calves fed the same volume of colostrum at the same time after birth may receive dramatically different amounts of IgGs. In practical terms, a calf fed four liters of high-quality colostrum may receive more than double the IgG mass compared to a calf fed the same volume of poor-quality colostrum. From the calf’s perspective, these represent entirely different biological starting points.

Assessing colostrum quality

Given the inherent variability in maternal colostrum quality, assessing colostrum before feeding is an important step in reducing risk to the newborn calf. On-farm evaluation is most commonly performed using a Brix refractometer. Brix percent has been shown to correlate well with colostrum IgG concentration and provides a rapid, practical tool to support real-time decision-making.

Using a threshold of 22% Brix or greater, there is a high level of confidence that colostrum is of high quality. Specifically, Dr. Buczinski and Dr. Vandeweerd determined that colostrum measuring at least 22% Brix had a 94% probability of containing more than 50 g IgG/L in 2016. Colostrum meeting or exceeding this threshold is generally suitable for first feedings, while lower values indicate a greater risk of inadequate IgG delivery to the calf.

When used consistently, Brix testing allows farm staff to distinguish between high- and low-quality colostrum and make informed decisions about how colostrum should be allocated. This approach supports more consistent IgG delivery to calves and provides a foundation for standardized colostrum management protocols.

What can we do with poor quality colostrum?

When colostrum quality is assessed, a proportion of colostrum will fall below recommended thresholds. Discarding poor-quality colostrum is often impractical, particularly in herds with a high proportion of first-calf heifers or during periods of environmental stress. As a result, producers must decide how best to manage colostrum that does not meet quality targets while still protecting calf health.

Colostrum enrichment offers a practical solution. Enrichment involves supplementing poor-quality maternal colostrum with colostrum replacer to increase the total IgG mass delivered to the calf. This approach allows producers to maximize their own colostrum by retaining the broader bioactive components of maternal colostrum while reducing the risk associated with low IgG concentration.

The utility of this strategy was demonstrated by Dr. Lopez at the University of Guelph in 2023. In that study, enriching low-quality maternal colostrum from 30 g IgG/L to 60 g IgG/L resulted in an increase of serum IgG concentrations, from 12 g/L to 20 g/L. Arguably most importantly, they observed failure transfer of passive immunity, dropped from 19% to 0%. When maternal colostrum containing 60 g IgG/L was further enriched to 90 g IgG/L, smaller increases in serum IgG were observed. However, enrichment increased the proportion of calves achieving excellent passive immunity, defined as serum IgG concentrations greater than 25 g/L, from 50% to 62% compared with calves that were only fed the maternal colostrum measuring at 60 g IgG/L.

Together, colostrum testing and targeted enrichment provide a practical pathway toward standardized colostrum management and more predictable calf health outcomes.

Putting it all together

Taken together,

these principles support a simple, decision-based approach to colostrum management that reduces variability and improves consistency without investment in infrastructure or major increase in labour demand.

Take Home Messages

Colostrum quality is inherently variable, even in well-managed herds, and IgG concentration is the primary driver of passive immunity. Feeding colostrum quickly and in adequate volume is important, but it cannot overcome poor-quality colostrum, which occurs in a substantial proportion of feedings. Assessing colostrum quality using a Brix refractometer and enriching low-quality colostrum provides a practical, standardized approach to reduce variability and deliver more consistent passive immunity across calves.

Written by Dr. Dave Renaud

Veterinary Epidemiologist, University of Guelph

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. The only opportunity to receive immunity is through colostrum and passive transfer of antibodies from the gut to the bloodstream. For decades, this transfer of immunity was viewed as either pass or fail. The failure of passive transfer meant a higher risk of illness or death, and it still does, but we now understand there is more nuance. In 2020, new guidelines regarding newborn calf immunity were published¹ describing four categories of passive transfer of immunity; excellent, good, fair, and poor representing > 25.0, 18.0 to 24.9, 10.0 to 17.9 and <10.0 g/L of serum IgG (Figure 1). We now know that with improving levels of immunity transferred, the risk of illness is reduced. All calves are valuable, so ensuring all receive excellent levels of immunity to remain healthy should be a priority.

Maximizing the use of maternal colostrum from the dams in your herd should be the first step in ensuring excellent immunity transfer to calves. It is an already available and valuable resource and provides antibodies specific to the environment calves are being introduced into. However, colostrum quality can be variable, meaning not all of it will be effective at providing excellent passive transfer (Figure 2). Quality can vary with time from birth to collection, lactation number, and nutrition, among other factors. Colostrum quality is deemed to be excellent at 25% Brix or more. The variability and clear margins for what constitutes excellent quality demonstrates the importance of testing each collection of colostrum using a brix meter (on-farm tool) or utilizing radial immunodiffusion (RID) testing (laboratory test). Colostrum not passing the test? Not to worry, as maternal colostrum can be enriched with dried whole bovine colostrum as a simple method to ensure every calf receives an excellent level of immunity and limit the amount of valuable maternal colostrum that needs to be dumped.

In addition to the crucial first feeding, a second feeding of excellent quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life significantly improves the antibody levels in a calf’s bloodstream.² As shown in Figure 3, enrichment of maternal colostrum can extend volume and ensure quality remains excellent to allow for a second feeding.

The benefits of enrichment don’t end there. Enrichment using whole bovine dried colostrum broadens the antibody spectrum of maternal colostrum. Any single collection’s antibody profile depends on the individual dam’s exposure and vaccinations status to specific pathogens her ability to channel those antibodies into colostrum, and time for colostrum production prior to calving.

Maternal colostrum and SCCL’s whole bovine dried colostrum contain a high proportion of IgG1 and smaller amount of IgG2. IgG1 concentration is important, as it is re-secreted on mucosal surfaces to protect the calf from diarrhea and pneumonia, IgG2s do not (consider this when purchasing a colostrum replacer). Plasma-based products have nearly equal proportions IgG1: IgG2, reducing its protective capability.³ designation specifically ensures consistent quality, known cleanliness, and effective antibodies to a wide range of pathogens. SCCL’s USDA and CFIA Veterinary Biologic designation specifically ensures consistent quality, known cleanliness, and effective antibodies to a wide range of pathogens.

The fat in maternal colostrum (colostral fat) has been shown to ignite calves’ brown fat metabolism which is vital to thermoregulation. Calves receiving colostrum replacers that are not whole, are deficient in colostral fat as fat is replaced with alternative, usually plant derived, sources. This has been shown to reduce growth and increase the risk of respiratory disease.

Feeding excellent quality, clean colostrum, whether maternal, whole dried, or a combination of the two is essential for calf immunity, capacity to thermoregulate, and true epigenetic programming. Avoid formulas of proteins and fats from other sources, as products assembled from serums and oils cannot match the benefits of whole colostrum. SCCL’s whole bovine colostrum products contain all the immune, metabolic and growth factors naturally found in maternal colostrum and are ideal for enriching to give every calf their very best start with excellent quality colostrum.

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Citations

1. Lombard, J. et al., Consensus recommendations on calf- and herd-level passive immunity in dairy calves in the UnitedStates. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 103, Issue 8, 7611 – 7624
2. Hare, K. S., et al. Feeding colostrum or a 1:1 colostrum:whole milk mixture for 3 days after birth increases serumimmunoglobulin G and apparent immunoglobulin G persistency in Holstein bulls. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 103,Issue 12, 2020, Pages 11833-11843
3. Godden, S.M., Haines, D.M., Hagman, D. Improving passive transfer of immunoglobulins in calves. I: Dose effect offeeding a commercial colostrum replacer, Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 92, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 1750-1757

Adapted from case study: A holistic approach to colostrum management: Enrichment of maternal colostrum combined with extended colostrum feeding as control measures for bovine rotavirus-associated neonatal calf diarrhoea. Ryan C. T. Davies, Katharine Denholm

Introduction

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.

• • • ‣ Colostrum should be no less than 22% brix
    • ‣ Use refractometer to confirm brix % and the SCCL app to see how much enhancement with powdered colostrum is needed to increase to excellent quality. Calves should be receiving either 200 to 300 g of IgG or 10% of their bodyweight in quality colostrum.

Use 100% bovine colostrum. Hierarchy of colostrum sources maternal > fresh or frozen from another dam in the herd > powdered colostrum replacement. It is recommended to not use colostrum from another farm to avoid outside pathogens.

2. Environment

Are calves being born in a clean environment? Employ a protocol to clean calving pens between uses (and individual or group housing pens), if calving on pasture, employ a Sandhills or Foothills calving system to avoid pathogen exposure from older calves to younger calves.

Have nipples and tubes specific for sick animals so do not accidentally infect healthy calves.

3. Adapted transition feeding protocol – colostrum fortified milk replacer

Switching to a straight milk replacer after the initial colostrum feeding, rather than using transition milk or a colostrum-enriched milk replacer, can deprive calves of key bioactive components such as oligosaccharides, insulin-like growth factors, and lactoferrin, which they would naturally receive when suckling from their dam. However, transition milk, while often available, may not be ideal for calves due to inconsistency and variable quality including IgG content and potential contamination. Feeding a milk replacer ration fortified with colostrum powder can deliver a more consistent feed, that is less labor intensive, and reduces pathogen exposure compared to feeding transition milk.

A recent case study highlighted that supplementing 70g of colostrum replacer in the milk replacer ration 2x daily can reduce diarrhea and improve titres against pathogens while having a reduced bacterial load compared to transition milk.

4. Follow-up and evaluate success

Even small adjustments can have a significant impact on calf health. Understanding where you started, what needs to be improved, what data needs to be collected to make a decision, and what adjustments to management made the difference is important in making impactful changes to improve animal health and the bottom line by preventing future outbreaks.

Conclusion

Small changes can have a big impact. Understanding areas on your operation where efficiency can be increased and pathogen loads can be decreased are key to healthy calves. Giving calves their best start by introducing them into a clean environment, setting protocols to ensure successful transfer of passive immunity with a robust colostrum protocol, and following up to measure success means continual progress of the productivity and health of your herd.

Work with your veterinarian and team to set up a plan, to identify potential risks to prevent diarrhea before it happens and to minimize the impact if it does.

Adapted from case study: A holistic approach to colostrum management: Enrichment of maternal colostrum combined with extended colostrum feeding as control measures for bovine rotavirus-associated neonatal calf diarrhoea. Ryan C. T. Davies, Katharine Denholm

Introduction

Diarrhea consistently throws a wrench into an already busy time of the year for calf managers whether said calves are black and white spotted, red, white, blue or any other variation. Preventing diarrhea before it strikes is one way to ensure animals can perform to their potential and reduce the already abundant workload during calving. Identifying the root causes of an outbreak and adopting a holistic approach can be the key to improving future calf health, helping give calves their best start and setting them up to become productive, long-lasting members of the herd.

A recent case study investigating a diarrhea outbreak on a UK dairy operation provided key insight on how refining colostrum management can make a major impact. When a dairy farmer noticed 100% of his calves aged 8 to 21 days were showing signs of diarrhea, they worked with their veterinarians to see what the cause could be and explore management changes to prevent future outbreaks. What they discovered was that among all the new technologies and tools to control disease, sometimes going back to the basics with good hygiene, standardizing care, and proper timing is all it takes to set calves up for success.

The Case

The herd consisted of 600 Holstein cows with an autumn block calving system, housed indoors and milked twice daily. Calves were housed individually until 10 days old where they were grouped in pens of ~40 head until weaning at 7 weeks. As soon as possible after birth, calves were fed 3.5L of pasteurized (140 °F or 60 °C for 60 min) maternal colostrum (over 22% Brix), followed by a second 2L feeding of colostrum. However, delays in the first feeding were common because of limited pasteurizing capacity. After the two colostrum feedings on day one, calves were placed on a milk replacer ration.

Despite high standards for hygiene, reducing exposure to unnecessary pathogens, and being fed good-quality colostrum in adequate amounts, farm management reported that every calf aged 8 to 21 days (n = 430) were experiencing diarrhea (runny or watery fecal consistency), and mortality in calves less than 21 days was 6%.

Investigation and Findings

The veterinary team collected fecal samples from six diarrheic calves which all tested positive for bovine rotavirus (BRV-A) and E. coli. Blood samples were taken from 12 calves and using the new guidelines (see table below) were analyzed for serum total protein (STP) to assess transfer of passive immunity. Results showed:

‣ 43.8% had failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI),

‣ 37.5% had ‘fair’ passive immunity

‣ 18.8% were classified as ‘excellent’

For reference, the target benchmarks are: >40% of calves at excellent status, ~30% at good status, ~20% at fair status and <10% at poor status (see table below).

Recommended Changes

Diarrhea can be a complex disease with many causes and several contributing factors. As a result, veterinarians took a few steps back, considered their observations and test results, and implemented three changes to optimize colostrum management.

1. Feed colostrum as soon as possible after birth

Although colostrum quality was good, delays resulting from harvesting and pasteurization (taking approximately 2-3h), compounded by the limited capacity of the pasteurizer, likely reduced calves’ potential for antibody absorption. To address this, the farm began freezing excess pasteurized colostrum to have a readily available supply to newborn calves. This reduced the average time of feeding of first feeding from several hours to within 20 min after birth. 

2. Standardize Colostrum Quality Through Brix Testing and Enrichment

While the average Brix (%) was 24% for cows and 22% for heifers, there was significant variation in quality (20% to 30% in cows and 12 % to 25% in heifers). Although no colostrum under 22% Brix was fed, this is a minimum recommendation, a Brix of 30% or ideally feeding at least 300g of IgG is preferred to support successful transfer of passive immunity. To achieve this, the farm began enriching their collected colostrum with a100% bovine colostrum powder (SCCL CCT 100) to standardize colostrum quality to 30% Brix (correlates to 100g/L of IgG). The amount of powder needed to reach 30% Brix was determined using the ‘Colostrum Calculator’ app.

Tip: Not all bovine colostrum powders are created equal. Choose a product that is 100% natural bovine colostrum rather than one stripped of colostral fat and supplemented with whey or vegetable fats.

3. Extended Colostrum Feeding

Previously, calves were abruptly transitioned from colostrum to milk replacer on day two, likely increasing diarrhea risk due to loss of gut-level immune protection and lack of additional nutritional benefits typically provided via transition milk. To remedy this, a 10-day extended colostrum feeding program was implemented by supplementing the milk replacer twice daily with 70g of whole bovine colostrum powder dissolved into 140 ml of water. This mimicked the benefits of transition milk by providing consistent antibody levels without the pathogen risk or supply limitations of raw transition milk.

The Results

By implementing a few small but meaningful changes in the last four weeks of calving, calf health improved dramatically compared to calves born in the first 10 weeks. 

‣ Calves in the ‘excellent’ category for STP jumped from 19% (first 10 weeks) to 84% (last 4 weeks)

‣ Diarrhea incidence dropped from 100% (430 calves) to 8.6% (6/70 calves)

‣ Mortality in calves less than 21 days dropped from 6% to 3%

Key Takeaways

So what can we draw from this case to improve management for calf rearers across the board?

‣ Enriching maternal colostrum with whole bovine colostrum powder is a practical on-farm method to standardize antibody delivery to calves. This means, less variability in the quality of colostrum being delivered to individual calves and consistently more successful transfer of passive immunity.

‣ Closing the window between when a calf is born and when the first colostrum is fed is essential.

‣ Employing methods like keeping a stock of frozen pre-pasteurized, good quality colostrum to be thawed when needed maximizes the potential for that calf to absorb essential antibodies.

‣ Supplementing whole bovine colostrum powder into a milk ration mimics the benefits of feeding transition milk without having to be concerned with limited supply or risking exposing young calves to pathogens.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, taking a look at your operation with your veterinarian and identifying opportunities to strengthen colostrum management can be the key to better calf health, giving the next generation of your herd their best start to grow healthy and stay productive.

The first 24 hours of a calf’s life are the most critical. As we prepare for calving, taking inventory of the tools that need to be on hand should be top of mind before the first calf hits the ground. Make sure everything goes smooth this calving season by being prepared with our veterinarian-approved checklist.

1. Vet Contact Information:
   • Add this number to your favourites list! Make sure they can be called as soon as possible if things so sideways.
   • * Calving Pro Tip *
     • Post the name and number of your vet on the fridge in the calving barn alongside your address or land location so anyone can acquire help during an emergency.
2. Post Calving Protocol:
   • Talk to your vet before calving and develop a plan to deliver essential vaccines, vitamins, minerals or medications that should be given immediately post-calving or may be needed in the busy weeks to come.
   • Ensure consistent calf care. Be sure that any decided protocols including dosages, and medication/vitamin/vaccine names are clearly displayed for you and any staff or calving help.
3. Supplies to Assist Calving:
   • Calving can turn into an emergency situation quickly and you don’t want to be caught searching the barn looking for key materials when crucial time is passing. Be sure you have these essential items on hand, cleaned, disinfected, and ready to go:
     – Clean bucket
     – Disinfectant (Chlorhexidine is recommended)
     – Chains and handles
     – Calf jack
     – 7% iodine for dipping navels
     – Lubricant (high quality, water-based)
     – Palpation (obstetrics or OB) sleeves and latex exam gloves
4. Calf Tagging Supplies:
   • This includes tags, a calf tagger, and tag marker or maker. Make sure you have all the tags you’ll need for calving season on-hand.
5. Record Keeping Supplies:
   • Whether you use a calving book or input records online be sure you have the tools needed to keep good and accurate records throughout the calving season.
   • Recommended records to keep:
     • Calf sex, dam, birth date, birth weight, calving score in addition to any other record important to track to understand and achieve the goals of your operation.
   • * Calving Pro Tip *
     • Keep records of sick animals, the date, what drug was administered, if a second dose is needed and if there are any withdrawal times. Keep track of second or repeat doses on your calendar and make sure you and whoever else is responsible for treating calves understand the system so calves aren’t treated twice or not at all!
6. Good Quality Colostrum:
   • It is a non-negotiable – calves NEED good quality and adequate colostrum as soon as possible. Sometimes this means human intervention. There is no such thing as feeding colostrum too early.
   • While straight from the dam is always best, if mom is dry and you don’t have any in stock, having SCCL (a 100% whole bovine colostrum replacement) allows timely colostrum feeding. This ensures that not matter the circumstances calves get the immunity they need to reach their potential and support your operation’s goals. Make sure you have enough to supplement at least 10% of the herd.
   • * Calving Pro Tip *
     • When re-heating colostrum NEVER microwave it. Allow colostrum to warm in a hot water bath to 110-120°F (43-49°C). When preparing a powdered supplement or replacement, use water that is already warmed to the appropriate temperature. Higher heat and microwaves denature the essential proteins (IgGs) that provide protective immunity to newborn calves.
7. Bottles, Nipples, Tube Feeder:
   • This is important to get fluids in calves whether that be colostrum. electrolytes, or milk replacer.
   • Disinfect between uses.
   • When it comes to tube feeders – plastic tubes offer more flexibility and reduce the chances of injuring the calf. However, they are more prone to damage, make sure you’re replacing them whenever you start to notice scarring in the tubing as this can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
   • * Calving Pro Tip *
     • Have at least 2 sets of bottles/nipples and tube feeders. One for healthy calves and another for sick calves to avoid cross contamination. You’d hate to expose a healthy newborn calf who just needs a boost of colostrum to the pathogens from a couple week old scouring calf that needed electrolytes earlier that day.

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Introduction

October marks International Mental Health Awareness Month. Across the globe, farmers face mounting pressures: economic uncertainty, climate variability, trade disruptions, and the emotional toll of caring for land and livestock. Organizations like The Do More Agriculture Foundation are leading the way in breaking the stigma around mental health in agriculture, offering tools like AgTalk and #TalkItOutTag to foster connection and resilience. 

But mental health isn’t just about responding to crisis, it’s also about preventing stress before it starts. And that principle applies just as powerfully to calf health.

Colostrum: The First Step Toward a Resilient Herd

Colostrum management is one of the most critical interventions in a calf’s life. The first feeding, ideally within the first 2 hours after birth, delivers essential immunoglobulins (IgG), nutrients, and energy that protect the calf from disease and support early development (Arnold, 2014; USDA APHIS, 2021). Research shows that calves who receive adequate, high-quality colostrum are:

• Less likely to suffer from scours and respiratory illness
• More likely to thrive and reach growth milestones
• Less likely to require costly treatments or rearing interventions
• More likely to become productive members of the herd (Lactanet, 2025; Dean et al., 2025)

Healthy Calves Means Healthier Farmers

When calves start strong, farmers experience fewer setbacks, less stress, and greater confidence in their herd’s future. Good colostrum management reduces the emotional and financial strain of dealing with sick animals and that’s a form of mental health support too!

Whether you’re in North America or anywhere else in the world, the message is the same: Investing in early care leads to long-term resilience.

So this October, as we talk openly about mental health in agriculture, let’s also talk about the power of prevention, in our communities and in our calf pens. A healthy start with colostrum is a step toward a healthier future, for your herd and for you.

Introduction

As the dairy industry continues to evolve under the pressure of antimicrobial resistance, producers are seeking alternatives to traditional antibiotic therapies, especially for common calfhood diseases like diarrhea. One promising solution is colostrum, not just as a preventive measure, but as an intervention during cases of diarrhea.

Diarrhea remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in preweaned calves, often triggered by a complex interplay of environmental, management, and pathogenic factors.

While prevention is paramount, ensuring adequate colostrum intake at birth, maintaining hygiene, and minimizing stress, supportive therapy is critical when diarrhea does occur.

Colostrum as a Supportive Therapy: Evidence from Research

A study conducted at a commercial calf-raising facility in Southwestern Ontario (Carter et al., 2021) evaluated the effect of colostrum supplementation, provided at the onset of diarrhea, on calf health outcomes. Calves were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups:

• Control (CON): Milk replacer only
• Short-Term Colostrum (STC): Colostrum-milk blend for 4 feedings over 2 days, followed by milk replacer
• Long-Term Colostrum (LTC): Colostrum-milk blend for 8 feedings over 4 days

Calves in the LTC group showed clear benefits compared to CON, including:

• Diarrhea resolved 2 times faster
• Improved average daily gain (+98 g/day)
• Significantly larger body weights on days 42 (+4 kg) and 56 (+ 6 kg) post-enrollment

These findings support the therapeutic use of colostrum beyond the first feeding.

Its rich supply of antibodies, growth factors, nutrients, and antibacterial activity helps repair intestinal damage, support immune function, and restore gut health, without disrupting microbial diversity like antibiotics often do (Carter et. al, 2021).

Why Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer

Because the most common causes of calf diarrhea are viral or parasitics, antibiotics can be ineffective, and their use can negatively impact the calf’s gut microbiome.

Studies have shown that antimicrobial use can reduce microbial diversity and impair immune development (Urie et al., 2018; Oultram et al., 2015). Instead, effective management should prioritize fluid therapy as the cornerstone of treatment to prevent dehydration and support recovery.

Alongside fluids, colostrum offers a natural option that can aid recovery without compromising long-term gut health.

Key Takeaways

• Prevention is still the foundation: Ensure excellent passive transfer (≥ 300 g IgG within 8 hours of birth) and maintain clean, stress-free environments.
• Supportive care is essential: Isolate sick calves, hydrate, and respond quickly to symptoms.
• Colostrum is a versatile tool: Use it not only at birth, but also as a supportive agent during diarrhea episodes.
• Consult your veterinarian: Professional guidance ensures safe and effective treatment.

Colostrum is more than a first feed, it’s a powerful, science-backed therapy that can transform how we manage calf diarrhea.

By integrating colostrum into both preventive and therapeutic protocols, producers can reduce reliance on antibiotics, improve calf outcomes, and support a healthier, more sustainable future for dairy operations.

Please download full PDF for references. 

Introduction

Summer stressors like heat, flies, transport, and dietary changes can quickly disrupt the health of preweaned calves. Diarrhea and dehydration are common consequences, often requiring immediate intervention. In these moments, producers need a fast, effective solution to restore gut health and support recovery. That’s where the RESTORE protocol comes in.

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For references, please refer to PDF version by clicking “Download this article”

Introduction

The importance of colostrum within the first hours of a calf’s life is universally recognized, as newborn calves are born with a naive immune system and are entirely dependent on colostrum to acquire passive immunity. Traditionally, this feeding is limited to a single dose of high-quality (> 50g/L of IgG) colostrum within the first hours post-birth. However, new evidence suggests that extending colostrum feeding using transition milk (TM), defined as milkings 2 through 6 post-calving (Godden, 2008), can provide significant health and performance benefits to young calves during the critical early weeks of life.

Transition milk maintains many of the nutritional and immunological benefits of colostrum in a lower concentration, including elevated concentrations of fat, protein, immunoglobulins, growth factors, hormones, and oligosaccharides, all of which are present at levels far above those found in mature milk(Fischer-Tlustos et al., 2020). These bioactive compounds contribute to gut development, microbiome establishment, immune maturation, and metabolic stability, especially during the first month, when calves are most vulnerable to disease and environmental stressors (Quigley & Drewry, 1998).

A growing number of studies have shown that extended colostrum or TM feeding improves average daily gain (ADG), reduces respiratory and digestive disease, and lowers calf mortality and antimicrobial use (Berge et al., 2009; Chamorro et al., 2017; Kargar et al., 2020; Cantor et al., 2021). Feeding enriched liquid diets for 4 to 14 days post-birth has been associated with improved long-term performance, although results vary depending on formulation and protocol (Van Soest et al., 2020). Additionally, colostral antibodies that remain in the gut lumen beyond the absorptive window may still provide local immune protection, contributing to reduced enteric infections and improved villus development (Hare et al., 2020).

McCarthy et al. (2023) demonstrated that supplementing milk replacer with colostrum replacer improved ADG and reduced the hazard of diarrhea and mortality during the preweaning period. These findings suggest that transition milk strategies are effective, underutilized tools for supporting calves during high-risk periods such as disease challenges, vaccination, dehorning, and weaning.

Carter et al (2022) investigated the use of bovine colostrum as a therapeutic intervention for diarrhea. A total of 108 calves at a commercial calf-raising facility in Canada were enrolled upon diagnosis of diarrhea and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) control, (2) short-term colostrum supplementation for2 days following diarrhea onset (50% MR + 50% CR), or (3) long-term colostrum supplementation for 4 days following diarrhea onset (50% MR + 50% CR). Calves in the long-term group experienced faster resolution of diarrhea and grew, on average, 98 g/day more over a 56-day period compared to the control group. These findings support the use of colostrum supplementation as a non-antibiotic strategy for managing calf diarrhea, with positive impacts on both health and growth performance.

The Practical Trial: Koepon Dairy Farm

To test this concept under commercial farm conditions, a practical field trial was conducted at Koepon dairy farm, by student researcher Ruth Huinder, in collaboration with colostrum specialist Dr. Juliana Mergh Leao and Dr. Dave Renaud, Professor at the University of Guelph.

Study Design

Twenty female Holstein calves were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control or test group. All calves received two initial (4L + 2 L) feedings of high-quality maternal colostrum (> 25% Brix) and were fed maternal transition milk on days 2 and 3, followed by milk replacer. The test group (EXT), however, received an additional supplement of SCCL colostrum replacer: 70 g of colostrum powder (CCT 14% IgG) mixed with 140 ml of water (mixed at temperature 43-49°C and fed at body temperature), providing 420 ml per day (divide into two feedings), administered daily from day 4 through day 14.

Calves were monitored for weight gain and health scores over a six-week period, including evaluations for fecal consistency, respiratory status, and general condition.

Results

• The test group (EXT) achieved a numerically higher average daily gain of 135g/d when compared to the control group on the first 3 weeks. Overall growth was +35g/d during the first 6 weeks of life

Table 1. Weights of the test (EXT) – and control group at birth, week 3 and 6 and calculated average daily gain from birth to week 3, week 3 to 6 and from birth to week 6.

• Abnormal feces were significantly more frequent in the control group, particularly during weeks 3 and 4—time points that coincided with routine stress events like vaccination, dehorning, and relocation.

The mean number of days with diarrhea (defined as a fecal score of 1 or 2) was 3.40 ± 2.01 in CON calves and3.40 ± 2.37 in EXT calves. In a Poisson regression model, there was no significant difference in diarrhea incidence between treatment groups (IRR: 0.11; 95% CI: –0.37 to 0.60; P = 0.64), nor was birth weight associated with diarrhea occurrence (P = 0.94). However, serum IgG concentration was significantly associated with diarrhea risk: calves with serum IgG > 28 g/L had a lower incidence of diarrhea (IRR: 0.58; 95%CI: 0.35 to 0.95; P = 0.03) compared to calves with IgG < 28 g/L (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Predicted days with diarrhea over time by serum IgG from repeated measures model, controlling for treatment group and birth weight.

The mean number of days with severe diarrhea (fecal score of 2) was 1.10 ± 0.88 in CON and 0.50 ± 0.71 inEXT. In the Poisson model, controlling for IgG (P = 0.31) and birth weight (P = 0.81), treatment group tended to be associated with the outcome. Specifically, calves in EXT tended to have a lower incidence (IRR: 0.40; 95%CI: 0.14 to 1.19; P = 0.099) of severe diarrhea compared to CON (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Predicted days with severe diarrhea over time by treatment group from repeated measures model, controlling for serum IgG concentration and birth weight.

During these high-stress periods, the test group displayed notably greater resilience, with fewer clinical symptoms and better fecal consistency.

These outcomes reinforce the hypothesis that transition milk, whether naturally collected or simulated via high-quality colostrum replacers added to the liquid diet, can serve as a bridge between passive immunity and active immune development, reducing disease risk and enhancing growth even in well-managed herds.

A Healthy Calf Is Priceless

While some producers may initially view the purchase of colostrum powder as an added cost, this study highlights the clear economic and welfare returns: faster-growing calves, fewer treatments, and better health outcomes. Transition milk strategies also contribute to greater job satisfaction, as healthier calves reduce the daily burden of disease management.

As the dairy industry continues to evolve, approaches that combine science with practical application, such as the one tested at Koepon farm, represent a valuable shift toward proactive calf care. With more research and field trials confirming the benefits of extended colostrum and transition milk feeding, it’s time to recognize transition milk not as a byproduct, but as a vital resource in the development of high-performing, resilient dairy calves.

Data referenced in this article is currently unpublished and will be made publicly available in the near future.

Dr. Juliana Mergh Leão, DVM M Sc. D Sc. Technical Manager & RD – EU, SCCL

Dr. Dave Renaud, DVM PhD, Associate Professor, University of Guelph

Ruth Huinder, Student Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein, SCCL Intern

Introduction

Personality traits influence dairy calves’ responses to disease, pain, and nutritional challenges. By understanding these traits and implementing effective management strategies, farmers can enhance calf welfare and reduce stress for both the animals, labor and farm owners.

Understanding Calf Personality Traits

Recent research has shown that dairy calves exhibit distinct personality traits that affect their responses to various stressors. These traits include:

• Fearful: Calves that are more cautious and slower to approach new stimuli.
• Active: Calves that are more energetic and exhibit higher levels of movement.
• Explorative: Calves that are curious and interact more with their environment.

Recognizing these traits can help farmers tailor their management practices to better support individual calves.

Impact of Personality on Stress Responses

Calves routinely face stressors such as disease (e.g., diarrhea), painful procedures (e.g., dehorning), and nutritional challenges (e.g., weaning). The study found that personality traits significantly influence how calves respond to these stressors:

• Diarrhea: Fearful calves showed greater changes in milk intake and drinking speed, while active calves exhibited changes in activity levels.
• Dehorning: Explorative calves had less disruption in feeding behaviors and lying bouts, indicating better resilience to pain.
• Weaning: Active calves had fewer unrewarded visits to the feeder, suggesting better adaptation to the transition from milk to solid feed.

Understanding these responses can help farmers identify calves that may need additional support during stressful periods.

Practical Implications for Farmers

By incorporating knowledge of calf personality traits into management practices, farmers can improve calf welfare and reduce stress. Here are some practical tips:

1. Tailored Feeding Plans: Adjust feeding strategies based on individual calf behaviors. For example, provide additional support to fearful calves during weaning to ensure adequate solid feed intake.

2. Pain Management: Implement comprehensive pain management protocols during procedures like dehorning. Explorative calves may benefit from additional monitoring to ensure they remain comfortable.

3. Disease Monitoring: Use precision livestock technologies to track changes in behavior and identify early signs of disease. Active calves may require closer observation during periods of illness.

4. Environmental Enrichment: Provide opportunities for calves to explore and interact with their environment. This can help reduce stress and promote positive behaviors.

Benefits of Improved Calf Management

Effective calf management not only enhances animal welfare but also offers several benefits to farmers:

• Reduced Stress: By addressing the specific needs of individual calves, farmers can minimize stress for both the animals and themselves.
• Improved Productivity: Healthy, well-managed calves are more likely to grow into productive adults, contributing to the overall success of the farm.
• Enhanced Welfare: Promoting positive behaviors and reducing stressors leads to better overall welfare for the calves.

This summary is based on findings from the original study:

Are you ready for a challenge? Personality traits influence dairy calves’ responses to disease, pain, and nutritional challenges

M.M. Woodrum Setser, H.W. Neave, J.H.C. Costa

Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 107, Issue 11, 2024, Pages 9821-9838, ISSN 0022-0302, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24514.