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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.

Download the Printable PDF Checklist!

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.

Introduction

Respiratory disease is one of the most common and economically significant health challenges affecting preweaned dairy calves. It accounts for a substantial proportion of antibiotic treatments, veterinary costs, and calf losses on farms, and it remains a persistent barrier to achieving optimal calf health and productivity.

How common is it?

In a Canadian study involving 74 dairy farms and over 7,800 calves, nearly 30% of calves were treated at least once during the preweaning period with an antibiotic, and respiratory disease was the most frequently cited reason for treatment. Specifically, it accounted for 54% of all recorded antibiotic treatments (Uyama et al., 2022). Similarly, data from a multi-state U.S. study of more than 2,500 calves reported that one-third of calves experienced at least one health event, with respiratory signs observed in 33% of sick calves. Among those with respiratory signs, 88% received antibiotics. The same study reported an overall preweaning mortality rate of 5% percent, with respiratory disease responsible for 14% of deaths and an additional 7% involving both respiratory and digestive causes (Urie et al., 2018).

What is the impact?

Respiratory disease during the preweaning period has serious consequences for both dairy heifer performance and in calves raised for beef or veal.

A recent meta-analysis evaluated the impact of preweaning respiratory disease on dairy heifers using data from 27 studies (Buczinski et al., 2021). Heifers diagnosed with respiratory disease during the preweaning period had 3 times higher odds of dying and 2 times higher odds of being removed from the herd, either through culling, sale, or death, before first calving compared to unaffected heifers. These heifers also gained 67 grams less per day during the preweaning phase and produced 121 kilograms less milk in their first lactation. Studies included in the meta-analysis also found that respiratory disease was associated with a delay in age at first calving by 8 to 14 days and a lower likelihood of surviving through the first lactation. Together, these findings illustrate the impact of early-life respiratory disease on dairy herd productivity.

In calves raised for veal or dairy-beef, the effects are also substantial. In a study of 3,519 veal calves followed through to slaughter, a single episode of respiratory disease was associated with an average reduction of 8 kilograms in hot carcass weight, lower fat cover, and a 6 times higher risk of mortality compared to calves without respiratory disease (Pardon et al., 2013). The impact worsened with repeated illness, with calves that experienced two or three or more episodes of respiratory disease had average reductions in hot carcass weight of 22 and 42 kilograms, respectively. Multiple episodes were also linked to poorer carcass quality and an increased likelihood of undesirable red meat color at slaughter.

Whether calves are destined for the milking herd or the beef supply chain, the consequences of respiratory disease are significant, underscoring the importance of targeted prevention and strong foundational immunity to protect calf health and performance.

What are the key factors to consider with prevention?

Housing and the environment

The environment in which calves are raised has a direct influence on their respiratory health. Well-managed housing can reduce pathogen exposure and support immune function, while poor conditions can increase the risk of respiratory disease through both direct and indirect stressors.

Bedding is a critical component of the calf’s environment. As bedding accumulates manure and forms a deep, wet pack, it contributes to a higher incidence of respiratory illness in preweaned calves (Donlon et al., 2023). This is likely due to both elevated bacterial load and the accumulation of ammonia, a pollutant produced from the microbial breakdown of urea in contaminated bedding and manure. Beyond bedding, other aspects of the housing environment also play a role. Proper ventilation helps control moisture and airborne contaminants, but excessive airspeed when the calf is outside of its thermoneutral zone can lead to chilling and increased respiratory disease (Donlon et al., 2023). Additionally, providing more than 35 square feet per calf has been shown to reduce airborne bacterial concentrations, likely by improving airflow and reducing animal density (Norlund and Halbach, 2019). The influence of these factors is summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Influence of environmental and housing factors on the development of respiratory disease in calves.

Where does colostrum fit?

Colostrum, or more specifically achieving adequate passive immunity, is not always top of mind when discussing respiratory disease prevention. However, the evidence clearly shows that it plays a central role in reducing the risk of pneumonia in young calves.

A recent summary of eight studies on pneumonia in calves, most of which focused on dairy herds, found that calves with poor colostrum intake were much more likely to get respiratory disease. Specifically, the risk of respiratory disease was 1.6 times higher in calves that had failed transfer of passive immunity (Thompson and Smith, 2022). The authors estimated that 31 percent of respiratory disease cases in calves with failed transfer of passive immunity could be directly attributed to inadequate colostrum management. Looking more broadly, the median population attributable fraction was 17 percent, meaning that across an entire herd, nearly one in six pneumonia cases could be avoided by improving passive immunity in all calves, not just those at highest risk.

Recent research has also highlighted the value of achieving even higher levels of passive immunity than previously thought. Combining results from three studies representing 10,000 dairy heifers grouped by passive immunity levels (Crannell and Abuelo, 2023; Lombard et al., 2020; Sutter et al., 2023), treatment for respiratory disease occurred in 25 percent of calves with poor immunity, 18 percent with fair, 13 percent with good, and only 11 percent with excellent passive immunity. These findings show that aiming for excellent (> 25 g of IgG absorbed per L of serum), not just adequate, colostrum transfer can make a meaningful difference in preventing respiratory disease.

This protection is likely due to immunoglobulin G, the dominant antibody in colostrum. Once absorbed, IgG circulates in the blood, neutralizing pathogens and supporting the early immune response. In addition to its systemic role, IgG can also be transported back into mucosal surfaces, including the respiratory tract, where it helps block pathogens at the site of infection. Figure 2 highlights how IgG protects against respiratory disease. Colostrum also contains other immune-supporting compounds, like lactoferrin, cytokines, and growth factors, that further enhance early immune development and resilience against disease.

Figure 2. Pathway of how colostrum supports the prevention of respiratory disease.

Take Home Messages

Preventing respiratory disease in calves requires attention to both the environment and early-life care. Clean, dry bedding, good ventilation, and enough space help reduce exposure to airborne pathogens. Just as important, feeding high-quality colostrum soon after birth gives calves the protection they need to stay healthy. Together, these practices lower disease risk, reduce treatment needs, and support better long-term outcomes.

Dave Renaud DVM PhD, Associate Professor, University of Guelph

References

Buczinski S, Achard D, Timsit E. Effects of calfhood respiratory disease on health and performance of dairy cattle: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dairy Science. 2021 Jul 1;104(7):8214-27.

Crannell P, Abuelo A. Comparison of calf morbidity, mortality, and future performance across categories of passive immunity: A retrospective cohort study in a dairy herd. Journal of Dairy Science. 2023 Apr 1;106(4):2729-38.

Donlon JD, McAloon CG, Hyde R, Aly S, Pardon B, Mee JF. A systematic review of the relationship between housing environmental factors and bovine respiratory disease in preweaned calves-Part 2: Temperature, relative humidity and bedding. The Veterinary Journal. 2023 Oct 1;300:106032.

Lombard J, Urie N, Garry F, Godden S, Quigley J, Earleywine T, McGuirk S, Moore D, Branan M, Chamorro M, Smith G. Consensus recommendations on calf-and herd-level passive immunity in dairy calves in the United States. Journal of dairy science. 2020 Aug 1;103(8):7611-24.

Nordlund KV, Halbach CE. Calf barn design to optimize health and ease of management. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice. 2019 Mar 1;35(1):29-45.

Pardon B, Hostens M, Duchateau L, Dewulf J, De Bleecker K, Deprez P. Impact of respiratory disease, diarrhea, otitis and arthritis on mortality and carcass traits in white veal calves. BMC Veterinary Research. 2013 Dec;9:1-4.

Raboisson D, Trillat P, Cahuzac C. Failure of passive immune transfer in calves: A meta-analysis on the consequences and assessment of the economic impact. PloS one. 2016 Mar 17;11(3):e0150452.

Sutter F, Venjakob PL, Heuwieser W, Borchardt S. Association between transfer of passive immunity, health, and performance of female dairy calves from birth to weaning. Journal of Dairy Science. 2023 Oct 1;106(10):7043-55.

Thompson AC, Smith DR. Failed transfer of passive immunity is a component cause of pre-weaning disease in beef and dairy calves: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Bovine Practitioner. 2022 Dec 29;56(2):47-61.

Urie NJ, Lombard JE, Shivley CB, Kopral CA, Adams AE, Earleywine TJ, Olson JD, Garry FB. Preweaned heifer management on US dairy operations: Part V. Factors associated with morbidity and mortality in preweaned dairy heifer calves. Journal of dairy science. 2018 Oct 1;101(10):9229-44.

Uyama T, Renaud DL, Morrison EI, McClure JT, LeBlanc SJ, Winder CB, de Jong E, McCubbin KD, Barkema HW, Dufour S, Sanchez J. Associations of calf management practices with antimicrobial use in Canadian dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 2022 Nov 1;105(11):9084-97.

With calving in full swing and Mother Nature throwing some curve balls, ensuring newborn calves receive high-quality colostrum is more critical than ever.

Introduction

Colostrum, the first milk produced by the dam, is rich in immunoglobulins (antibodies), essential nutrients, and bioactive components that are vital for the health and survival of neonatal calves. The timely intake of adequate colostrum is crucial for passive immunity transfer, protecting calves from diseases and setting the foundation for robust growth and development.

The Importance of Colostrum in Beef Calves

Newborn calves are born without a fully developed immune system, making them susceptible to various pathogens. Colostrum provides the necessary antibodies, primarily Immunoglobulin G (IgG), to safeguard against infections during the early stages of life. Research indicates that calves require approximately 300 grams of immunoglobulins (IgG) within the first day of life to achieve excellent passive transfer. The absorption of these IgGs is highest in the first 2 hrs of life. Producers should be aware of this and strive to ensure calves are receiving colostrum from the dam or as a supplement/ replacer in a timely fashion. Beyond immunoglobulins, colostrum contains elevated levels of fat, protein, vitamins (such as A, D, and E), and minerals compared to regular milk. These nutrients are essential for jumpstarting the calf’s metabolism, stimulating digestive activity, and supporting overall vitality.

Dr. Lisa Gamsjäger’s Research Findings

Dr. Lisa Gamsjäger, a researcher specializing in pre-weaning ruminant health, has focused her studies on the transfer of passive immunity and neonatal vaccine strategies. Her work emphasizes the critical role of colostrum not only in providing antibodies but also in delivering growth factors and bioactive components that influence gut health and metabolic programming. Dr. Gamsjäger’s research suggests that even when calves receive sufficient antibodies to prevent clinical Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT), inadequate intake of these additional colostral components can lead to suboptimal growth and increased susceptibility to stressors such as weaning and transportation.

In a collaborative study, Dr. Gamsjäger and her colleagues investigated the impact of colostrum management on beef calves. The findings highlighted that calves receiving high-quality colostrum shortly after birth exhibited improved health outcomes and reduced incidence of diseases. This underscores the necessity for beef producers to adopt effective colostrum management practices to enhance calf performance and welfare.

Challenges in Colostrum Management for Beef Producers

Unlike dairy operations, where colostrum quality can be directly measured using tools like Brix refractometry, beef producers often lack the means to assess colostrum quality on-farm.

Therefore, implementing best management practices is essential to ensure calves receive adequate and high-quality colostrum. Factors to consider include:

• Dam Nutrition and Health: Proper nutrition and health of the dam during gestation significantly influence colostrum quality and yield.
• Timely Intervention: Calves should ingest colostrum as soon as possible, preferably within the first two hours post-birth, to maximize antibody absorption.
• Environmental Conditions: Adverse weather, muddy environments, and stress can hinder a calf’s ability to nurse effectively, necessitating manual colostrum administration.

Decision Process for Colostrum Supplementation or Replacement

To assist producers in making informed decisions regarding colostrum supplementation or replacement, the following protocol is recommended:

• Birth Intervention Assessment:
  • No Assistance or Minor Difficulty: Monitor to ensure the calf stands and nurses within two hours.
  • Major Difficulty, C-Section, or Abnormal Presentation: High risk for FPT; consider immediate colostrum supplementation or replacement.
  • Dam-related Issues (e.g., death, poor udder conformation, inadequate bonding) or Weak Calf: Provide full colostrum replacement promptly.
• Initial Monitoring (0-2 Hours Post-Birth):
  • Calf Standing and Nursing Vigorously: No intervention needed; continue to monitor.
  • Calf Not Standing, Lacks Suckle Reflex, or in Adverse Conditions (e.g., mud, twin birth): Administer colostrum replacement immediately.
  • Calf Attempting but Failing to Nurse Successfully: Provide an appropriate dose of colostrum supplement.
• Follow-Up Monitoring (6-12 Hours Post-Birth):
  • Calf Nursing and Bonded with Dam: Continue regular monitoring.
  • Calf Not Nursing: Administer a second feeding of colostrum supplement or replacement as necessary.
  • Assess Additional Needs: Determine further colostrum requirements based on the calf’s size and health status.

By adhering to this structured colostrum management protocol and incorporating insights from recent research, producers can enhance calf immunity, reduce disease incidence, and promote optimal growth and development. Proactive colostrum management is a pivotal investment in the long-term productivity and profitability of beef operations.

Dr. Travis White

SCCL, Director of Veterinary Technical Services

Introduction

Newborn calves have an underdeveloped immune system and no circulating maternal antibodies, leaving them highly susceptible to infectious diseases. Unlike humans, where passive immunity is transferred through the placenta, the synepitheliochorial placenta of cattle prevents the transfer of immunoglobulins from the dam to the fetus (Peter, 2013). As a result, calves are born without humoral immunity and rely entirely on colostrum intake for passive immunity.

Immunoglobulins and their role in calf immunity

Introduction

Colostrum, rich in nutrients and antibodies, is essential for providing passive immunity to newborn calves. The concentration of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in colostrum is a key factor in determining its quality, and Brix refractometry is commonly used on farms as an indirect measure of IgG concentration in colostrum. Feeding calves with high-quality colostrum during the first hours of life is crucial for ensuring adequate IgG transfer, as calves strictly rely on it to develop disease resistance (Figure 1). However, the quality of maternal colostrum can vary significantly among cows within the same herd. In this context, enriching maternal colostrum with a colostrum replacer has emerged as an effective strategy to improve quality by increasing levels of IgG, nutrients, and bioactive compounds.

Figure 1. Graphical representation of the transfer of passive immunity mechanism in newborn calves.

 

Brix % and variability of maternal colostrum

 

This has been a general guideline for many years for a Holstein calf, which should receive 10% of its body weight (.1 X 40 = 4L) at 22% Brix (50 g IgG/L x 4 = 200 grams of IgG). However, new recommendations indicate that calf morbidity and the rate of failed passive transfer decrease when more antibodies (IgG) are provided in the colostrum. These new recommendations now suggest providing 300 grams of IgG to achieve excellent passive transfer. What does this mean in terms of Brix? It means that we need to raise the standards on the farm to select colostrum with Brix levels higher than 24%. However, ensuring consistent colostrum quality in a herd is very difficult, as there are conditions that cause significant variability among cows in the same herd. This variability is influenced by factors such as age, breed, nutrition, prepartum vaccinations, milk production, and the interval between calving and colostrum collection, among others (Moore et al., 2005; Conneely et al., 2013). In a study conducted in 8 dairy farms in the United States (Figure 2), which analyzed IgG concentration in maternal colostrum through refractometry, Brix percentages ranged from 12% to 32%, with an average of 23.8%, indicating the vast variability in IgG concentration among cows (Quigley et al., 2013). This study by Quigley et al. (2013) highlights the challenge of relying exclusively on maternal colostrum to ensure adequate quality and, therefore, correct passive transfer of IgG in calves.

 

 

Figure 2. Adapted from Quigley et al. (2013). Distribution of total protein in maternal colostrum estimated through Brix refractometry

 

To address this variability and improve the quality of maternal colostrum, an effective strategy is the enrichment with a colostrum replacer. This strategy presents itself as a viable alternative to overcome the limitations associated with differences in the quality of maternal colostrum available on the farm, thus ensuring greater consistency in the transfer of essential antibodies for the immune development of the calves.

 

 

Benefits of enriching low – quality maternal colostrum

There is scientific evidence supporting the usefulness of enriching maternal colostrum. In a study conducted in Canada, researchers investigated whether low-quality maternal colostrum could be enriched with bovine colostrum replacer to reach adequate serum IgG levels in newborn calves (Lopez et al., 2023).

In this study, the researchers fed the calves maternal colostrum with a Brix content of 15.8% (equivalent to 30 g/L of IgG), achieving an average serum IgG concentration of 11.76 g/L (Figure 3). This IgG concentration falls within the “fair” category on the most recent passive transfer of immunity classification scale (Lombard et al., 2020). The maternal colostrum was then supplemented with 551 g of colostrum replacer (Saskatoon, SK, Canada; SCCL) to bring the IgG concentration up to 60 g/L. Calves that were fed the combination of maternal colostrum + colostrum replacer had an average serum IgG concentration of 19.85 g/L, thus moving from the “fair” to the “good” category on the passive transfer of immunity scale of Lombard et al. (2020). Furthermore, 18.8% of the calves fed maternal colostrum with 15.8% Brix experienced failure in the transfer of passive immunity. However, when that colostrum was enriched with colostrum replacer, 0% of the calves showed failed passive immunity (Lopez et al., 2023). In another similar study conducted in Brazil, calves were fed maternal colostrum with 25% Brix or maternal colostrum that initially had 20% Brix but was enriched to 25% Brix using a colostrum replacer (Saskatoon, SK, Canada; SCCL) (Silva et al., 2024).

The final results of this study found no differences between the calves regarding serum IgG concentration, total serum protein, apparent efficiency of IgG absorption, concentrate intake, daily weight gain, body weight, or variables related to the health status of the calves.

Figure 3. Modified from Lopez et al. (2023).

These results demonstrate that improving the quality of maternal colostrum through enrichment with a colostrum replacer is possible, as evidenced by the lack of differences in serum IgG levels, health status, and productivity in the calves across both treatments. At SCCL, there are a series of recommendations for enriching colostrum on the farm. It is considered that any colostrum with a Brix percentage of 22% or lower should be enriched to achieve an adequate IgG mass. Table 1 shows the classification of colostrum based on its Brix percentage and the corresponding recommendation.

Table 1. Recommendations for enriching maternal colostrum with a colostrum replacer.

To know exactly how much colostrum replacer we need to add to our maternal colostrum, we first need to determine the Brix percentage of the colostrum we are working with. This can be done using a refractometer, which will quickly provide us with a reading based on the quality of our colostrum. Additionally, we need to set the target Brix percentage we want to achieve with the enrichment. Our goal should always be to obtain colostrum that falls between 25-30% Brix. Once we know the Brix percentage of our colostrum (what we have) and our enrichment goal (what we want to reach), we can use Table 2 as a reference to determine how many grams of SCCL colostrum replacer we need to add to our maternal colostrum.

 

Table 2. Colostrum powder calculations to enrich fresh colostrum.

Finally, it is essential that when enriching colostrum, a colostrum replacer derived directly from maternal colostrum is used. This ensures that the product retains the essential characteristics of natural colostrum, without the addition of additives or the removal of crucial components. An appropriate replacer should maintain the natural levels of fat, protein, immunoglobulins, and bioactive compounds present in maternal colostrum. In this way, it ensures that the calves receive nutrition and immune protection like what they would obtain from natural maternal colostrum, maximizing the benefits for their health and development.

Figure 4. Key points of an adequate colostrum management protocol.

Conclusion

Lucía Pisoni, Juliana Mergh Leão, José María Rodríguez, Isela Ceballos, and Marina Godoy

Department of Clinical Research, The Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd., Saskatoon, Canada