Consistent calf health starts with consistent colostrum, but as research shows, maternal colostrum can vary dramatically in both quality and antibody concentration. In fact, cows within the same herd can produce colostrum with significantly different immunoglobulin (IgG) levels, making it difficult to ensure every calf receives the immunity it needs.
Colostrum quality can vary based on many factors. Including:
- How many calves a cow has birthed.
- Heifers will typically have a higher concentrated, lower volume colostrum while cows who have had multiple calvings with have a lower concentrated, higher volume colostrum
- Dry cow management
- Short dry periods (less than 47 to 51 days) are related to low colostrum volumes
- Timing of colostrum collection
- IgG concentration drops by 4% for every hour it is not collected following calving
Additionally, natural factors like seasonality and nutritional status leading up to calving will all play a role in the quality of maternal colostrum, even in well-managed herds.
High quality colostrum typically contains at least 50 g/L of IgG, often measured as 22% Brix or higher. However, multiple studies have shown that maternal colostrum often falls under this threshold. Additionally, new recommendations suggest calves benefit even more when they receive 200-300g IgG in the first 24hrs of life which translates to two feedings of 3-4L of 25% Brix colostrum. This supports excellent passive transfer to promote long-term health and productivity. However, calf management does not need to be a random guessing game of who will draw the short straw when it comes to quality of that first feed.
Enrichment offers a solution. Optimizing calf health starts by bringing all colostrum to a consistent IgG concentration with whole bovine colostrum powder.
Applying enrichment is simple:
- Test maternal colostrum with a Brix refractometer: anything above 25% Brix is good to go, anything below 25% Brix is in need of enrichment
- Based on the volume of colostrum and Brix % use the SCCL Colostrum Calculator to determine how much powder needs to be added to get to the 25% Brix target
- Mix the powder directly into maternal colostrum and feed
Using enrichment on farm has been shown to significantly reduce the number of calves experiencing failure of passive transfer. What does that look like? Well, more calves achieving excellent passive transfer means less disease, less loss, increased average daily gains, better performance at first and second milkings and reduced labor.
When you put it all together, enrichment offers a simple, data-based decision making approach to colostrum management that reduces natural variability and improves consistency without having to invest in infrastructure or any major increase in labor demand. Mind you, the time you save identifying and treating calves for a myriad of issues is worth the time to test and enrich for that first feed.
Ready to dive in deeper? In our latest Colostrum Counsel, Maternal Colostrum Varies Calf Health Shouldn’t we explore:
● Why maternal colostrum quality fluctuates from cow to cow
● How this affects passive immunity and early calf health
● Practical steps producers can take to overcome colostrum variability
● The role of supplementation and enrichment when Brix readings fall short
Relying solely on maternal colostrum isn’t always enough when quality is unpredictable. By understanding the factors behind inconsistency, and knowing how to respond, producers can ensure every calf receives the strong, healthy start it deserves.
Read the full article here: https://sccl.com/news/the-colostrum-counsel-maternal-colostrum-is-variable-calf-health-shouldnt/
Written by Sydney Fortier, Marketing Communications Specialist and Dr. Dave Renaud, Veterinary Epidemiologist, University of Guelph
