Colostrum

Colostrum Quality Starts Weeks Before the Calf Arrives

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:00:49 GMT

On most dairies, colostrum management is treated as a short window right after calving. The first milking is collected, tested and quickly fed to the calf. But new research suggests colostrum quality is shaped weeks before it ever reaches the pail.

Research from Amanda Fischer-Tlustos examines colostrogenesis, the process that produces colostrum, and how nutrition, metabolism and mammary activity during the dry period influence what ends up in that first milking.

“We always talk about harvesting colostrum to feed the calves,” she said during a recent Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast. “But how are the cows producing it?”

Her work suggests the answer starts much earlier than many farms think, with high-quality colostrum developing gradually in the weeks leading up to calving.

Looking Beyond IgG

Colostrum conversations often revolve around immunoglobulin G, or IgG. Because calves are born without functional immunity, they depend on these antibodies from colostrum to establish passive transfer.

While IgG remains the cornerstone of colostrum quality, Fischer-Tlustos believes focusing only on antibodies overlooks much of what makes colostrum biologically powerful.

“I wanted to focus on it more than just IgG,” she says. “There’s all these other things in colostrum aside from IgG. Not just when is IgG transferred from the serum into the colostrum prior to calving, but also when are the macronutrients starting to be synthesized, and when are bioactive compounds starting to be synthesized or transferred?”

These additional components include hormones, growth factors and specialized carbohydrates known as oligosaccharides. Although they exist in much lower concentrations than fat or antibodies, they can have meaningful effects on calf development.

“To me, the definition of a bioactive compound is something that is present in low concentrations compared to IgG or fat,” Fischer-Tlustos says. “But even though they’re present at low concentrations, they could still have a really big impact on calf development and physiology.”

Taken together, these compounds reveal colostrum as a complex biological package rather than simply the first milk produced after calving.

“It’s almost like the cow has tailored her colostrum to the calf’s needs,” Fischer-Tlustos adds.

(File Photo)

A Staggered Timeline Before Calving

To understand when these components begin forming, Fischer-Tlustos followed a group of Holstein cows from dry-off through calving. The cows were dried off approximately eight weeks before their expected calving date, allowing researchers to monitor mammary changes throughout the dry period.

The team collected small samples of mammary secretions at regular intervals leading up to calving.

“We didn’t want to take too much, because then we could induce them into lactation, which would wreck our colostrum,” Fischer-Tlustos says.

What the team discovered was a surprisingly staggered timeline of colostrum formation.

Lactose and fat production, two hallmarks of normal milk secretion, began very close to calving.

“We found that lactose and fat really only start to turn on within about one to two days prior to calving,” she says. “And that makes sense to me. They kind of turn on with lactogenesis, which is milk production.”

Protein synthesis began slightly earlier.

“We found that protein starts to turn on about a week prior to calving,” Fischer-Tlustos says.

The timeline for IgG accumulation, however, followed a different pattern.

“When we looked at IgG, what we actually found was that it started to accumulate substantially in some cows even as early as six weeks prior to calving, and some cows were accumulating it even before that,” she says.

Because the cows in the study were dried off roughly eight weeks before calving, that means antibody accumulation began soon after the dry period started. The discovery challenged the assumption that the close-up period is the primary window for influencing colostrum quality.

“It kind of really started to reframe my thinking,” Fischer-Tlustos says. “We try to put in nutritional strategies or management strategies in the close-up period to try to drive more IgG transfer. But it made me think, maybe this isn’t the time we need to be looking at that.”

Further analysis reinforced the importance of early accumulation. Cows that began building IgG earlier in the dry period consistently produced better colostrum.

“The earlier it could accumulate in the prepartum secretion, the better the colostrum would be after she calved,” she says. “And we found that the more gradual or slowly that that accumulation could happen, the better for first milking colostrum.”

(Farm Journal)

Giving the Udder Rest

While studying differences between cows, Fischer-Tlustos began looking at another important factor: mammary activity during the dry period.

Her team measured indicators of mammary metabolism including milk yield at dry-off, mammary blood flow and uptake of metabolic fuels such as glucose and acetate.

“These were kind of indicators of mammary activity during the dry period,” she says.

The findings revealed a counterintuitive relationship. Cows whose udders remained more active during the far-off dry period tended to produce poorer colostrum.

“We found that cows that had more mammary activity during the far-off period had worse colostrum production,” Fischer-Tlustos says.

Many producers have seen these cows in the dry pen. They are the animals that never seem to fully dry off.

“We see cows in the dry pen that are like three weeks dry, and they have huge udders and they’re leaking milk still,” she says. “And I think these are those cows that have a lot of difficulty drying off, and they’re not able to get into that rest and regeneration state, which coincides with colostrogenesis.”

High milk production heading into dry-off appears to intensify the problem.

“We also found, too, that the more milk the cow made at dry off, she had more mammary activity in the far-off period, and then worse colostrum,” Fischer-Tlustos says. “This is even more exacerbated for our high producing cows, which are typically our ones that have trouble drying off.”

Nutrition and Metabolism Influence Composition

Additional work examined how prepartum nutrition influences colostrum formation. Beginning roughly 19 days before calving, primiparous and multiparous cows were fed diets with either high or low energy density.

Interestingly, the dietary treatments did not significantly affect IgG concentration or total colostrum yield. However, they did alter several other components.

Cows fed higher-energy diets produced colostrum with greater concentrations of insulin, somatic cells and sialic acid. At the same time, they had lower concentrations of total oligosaccharides.

The metabolic drivers of colostrum production also differed by parity. In first-lactation cows, colostrum yield appeared more closely linked to circulating glucose levels. Multiparous cows showed a stronger association with hormonal signaling, particularly insulin.

According to Fischer-Tlustos, these differences suggest that cows in different stages of life may rely on different metabolic pathways to support colostrum synthesis.

Rethinking Dry-Off

Another management factor that may affect colostrum development is the way cows are dried off.

According to Fischer-Tlustos, abrupt dry-off remains common practice.

“I read a review paper from 2020 that said 75% of U.S. farms are practicing abrupt dry off,” she says. “So just dry off in one day. Which is, from my standpoint, concerning from colostrum production, but that’s also really concerning for milk production.”

The challenge, she says, is that cows may not receive enough time for the mammary gland to fully transition from lactation to regeneration.

“I was trying to think of an analogy, and the Olympics were on,” she says. “You have to think they are like a pro athlete. They need to rest. They can’t just go right into the next Olympics two months later. They need a rest and regeneration period.”

Without adequate rest, the mammary gland may remain partially active during the dry period, limiting its ability to accumulate antibodies and other compounds needed for high-quality colostrum.

From Harvesting Colostrum to Developing It

Taken together, Fischer-Tlustos’ research suggests the industry may need to expand how it thinks about colostrum management.

Rather than focusing solely on the harvest and testing of colostrum at calving, her findings highlight the importance of the weeks leading up to it. Successful dry-off, controlled mammary activity and adequate time for mammary tissue to regenerate all appear to influence how colostrum develops.

For dairy producers striving to deliver consistent, high-quality colostrum to newborn calves, the most important management window may begin much earlier than previously thought. Long before the calf is born and the colostrum is harvested, the cow has already been building it.

Better Colostrum Decisions Start with the Right Tools

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:37:38 GMT

Not all colostrum is created equal, and understanding its quality can influence how well calves get started. That’s why having the right tools to measure colostrum quality can help producers make better feeding decisions for newborn calves.

Immunoglobulin (IgG) levels in colostrum can vary widely, from less than 20 mg/mL to more than 100 mg/mL depending on factors like the cow’s breed, health history, season and how much colostrum she produces. In general, colostrum with at least 50 mg/mL of IgG is considered high quality and provides the antibodies calves need for a strong start.

Because of that variation, appearance alone is not a reliable way to judge colostrum quality. Many producers use on-farm tools to measure IgG levels and sort high-quality colostrum from the rest. Two common options are the colostrometer and the Brix refractometer, each with its own pros and cons, according to Jud Heinrichs, Professor Emeritus of Dairy Nutrition at Penn State University, and Coleen M. Jones, former research associate in dairy.

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Colostrometer

The colostrometer is a hydrometer that floats in a sample of colostrum and measures its specific gravity. The tool is placed in a cylinder of colostrum and allowed to float freely. A color-coded scale estimates the IgG concentration: green indicates more than 50 mg/mL and high-quality colostrum, yellow falls between 20 and 50 mg/mL, and red shows less than 20 mg/mL.

Because of the color scale, the colostrometer is best used to sort colostrum into general quality categories rather than to measure an exact IgG value. This makes it easier to identify which colostrum is ideal for the first feeding and which should be saved for later feedings or mixed with transition milk.

The Pros:

Simple and inexpensive, usually under $100.
Lets you quickly separate high-quality colostrum from lower-quality batches.
Can test several samples from the same milking.

The Cons:

Temperature matters. Room temperature (around 72°F) gives the most accurate reading. Colder colostrum will look better than it is, and warmer colostrum will look worse.
Other components in colostrum, like fat and protein, can affect readings. It’s better for sorting than for precise IgG numbers.
The colostrometer is made of glass, so it can break if it’s dropped or handled roughly.

Brix Refractometer

A Brix refractometer is normally used to measure sugar, but it can also give a good estimate of IgG in colostrum. To use it, just place a few drops of colostrum on the prism, lower the cover and the digital display gives a quick, easy-to-read Brix value.

A reading of 22% or higher usually means the colostrum contains 50 mg/mL of IgG or more, making it adequate for newborn calves. Research shows the Brix refractometer tends to match lab-tested IgG levels better than a colostrometer, and it’s less fragile., which makes it easier to handle day after day without worrying about breaking it.

The Pros:

More accurate than a colostrometer.
Sturdy, especially digital models.
Works well across a range of colostrum temperatures and even frozen or thawed samples.
Can also estimate total solids in milk or IgG in calf serum.

The Cons:

Optical models can be tricky with high-fat colostrum because the line can blur. Digital models read it more clearly.
Slightly higher cost for digital models, but farm-friendly options are available for under $100.
Needs regular cleaning and occasional calibration to keep it accurate.

Both tools give farmers a practical way to know which colostrum will help calves get a strong start. The colostrometer is simple and inexpensive, perfect for separating the best colostrum from the rest. The Brix refractometer is more accurate and easier to read with thick, fatty colostrum. Either tool can help make sure calves get enough IgG to grow healthy and stay well.

Serum Total Protein as a Benchmark for Calf Program Performance

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:34:30 GMT

Serum total protein (STP) testing has a relatively straightforward purpose in calf medicine: determining whether newborn calves successfully absorbed antibodies from colostrum.

But according to Bethany Dado-Senn, calf and heifer technical specialist with Vita Plus Corp, the metric is increasingly being used in a broader way. Rather than evaluating passive transfer in individual calves alone, many dairies now track STP results across groups of calves to assess how well their maternity and colostrum programs are working.

Few management decisions influence calf health more than what happens in the first hours after birth. Because STP reflects those early management decisions, it can provide rapid feedback about how well a calf program is functioning.

Why Serum Total Protein Matters

Serum total protein provides a practical proxy for immunoglobulin absorption after colostrum feeding. If calves receive adequate high-quality colostrum shortly after birth, STP values typically fall into higher ranges. If colostrum management is inconsistent or delayed, STP levels tend to drop.

The test is inexpensive and easy to perform using a refractometer, which has made it one of the most widely used field tools for evaluating passive transfer.

Research shows STP and passive transfer status is closely linked to calf health. In a large cohort study of over 4,000 calves, passive transfer status was associated with differences in disease incidence, mortality risk and early growth performance.

Calves with higher STP concentrations experienced fewer health events during the preweaning period compared with calves in lower passive transfer categories. These findings suggest STP reflects more than antibody transfer alone. It may also capture the combined effects of colostrum quality, feeding timing and early calf care.

These relationships have led veterinarians to view STP as an early indicator of overall calf program success.

Understanding STP Benchmarks

Modern passive transfer benchmarks are largely based on research evaluating thousands of dairy calves. The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association classification system divides calves into four categories based on serum total protein levels.

Passive Transfer Category	Serum Total Protein
Poor	<5.1 g/dL
Fair	5.1–5.7 g/dL
Good	5.8–6.1 g/dL
Excellent	≥6.2 g/dL

Strong colostrum programs typically achieve:

At least 40% of calves in the “excellent” category
Fewer than 10% in the “poor” category

“Calves in that poor category have a four times increase in mortality risk and about a one and a half times increased risk of bovine respiratory disease and scours,” Dado-Senn says.

Tracking these proportions over time helps farms monitor the consistency of colostrum management.

Serum protein concentrations gradually decline as calves age. For that reason, sample calves between 2 and 4 days of age whenever possible. Maintaining a consistent sampling protocol is especially important when STP is used as a herd-level benchmark.

From Diagnostic Test to Management Benchmark

Rather than focusing only on individual calves, many dairy operations now track herd-level STP results over time. Some farms monitor average STP values by month or quarter, while others track the percentage of calves falling into different passive transfer categories.

In some cases, the metric is even used as a management tool to encourage employee performance.

“There are a number of dairies that I work with that utilize things like serum total proteins or average daily gains of their calves as kind of a performance benchmark for their staff. There might be a list on the door saying, ‘Hey, here’s our serum total protein goal. Here’s where everybody is relative to that,’” Dado-Senn says.

Using STP this way creates a direct feedback loop between colostrum management and measurable outcomes. When calf-care teams can see how their practices translate into herd metrics, it becomes easier to identify where protocols are working and where adjustments may be needed.

Tracking STP Trends Over Time

Evaluating STP results as trends rather than isolated measurements can be helpful for evaluating broader systems. Monitoring herd averages and passive transfer categories over time can reveal subtle changes in colostrum management before clinical problems appear.

In herds with strong maternity protocols, STP trends can remain consistently high. Dado-Senn describes one dairy client who tracks STP trends on a quarterly basis.

“Looking at serum total protein trends over quarters, they do an absolutely fantastic job. Their averages are well-above the excellent range and they typically don’t have much more than 1% or 2% in the poor category,” Dado-Senn says.

Tracking results this way gives farms a broader evaluation of calf program performance, allowing them to make system-wide improvements.

Detect Management Problems Early

Because STP reflects events that occur immediately after birth, shifts in herd averages can reveal management issues before disease outbreaks occur.

Declining STP values may signal:

delayed colostrum feeding
lower colostrum quality
changes in maternity staffing
inconsistent colostrum handling protocols

Spot testing calves periodically can identify these problems quickly.

A Simple Test with Growing Influence

Calf programs involve many moving parts, from maternity management to housing and nutrition. Yet the earliest decisions in a calf’s life often have the greatest impact. Serum total protein testing provides a simple way to measure the success of those decisions.

What began as a diagnostic test for passive transfer is increasingly becoming something more: a practical performance indicator for the entire calf system.

The Colostrum Chronicles: New Things We’ve Learned

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:04:00 GMT

There is virtually nothing more important to a newborn calf’s long-term health and performance than the timely delivery of high-quality, hygienic colostrum.

In recognition of that fact, researchers continue to study colostrum in search of ways to enhance it and perfect its delivery to calves. One such researcher is Dr. Trent Westhoff, who earned his PhD at Cornell University while investigating the nuances of colostrum.

Westhoff joined Elanco Animal Health in 2025 as a Dairy Technical Consultant. He recently presented a webinar – “Colostrum Management: Factors Influencing Yield, Quality, and Calf Health” -- on behalf of the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association . In it, he shared four recent, research-based findings that may lead to colostrum-management changes in the future:

Dry-period length influences yield and quality – Westhoff acknowledged the seasonal frustration that most dairy producers experience in the fall and winter – a dip in colostrum yield that may result in a colostrum shortage or lowering of quality standards to meet volume needs.

He and other researchers have investigated multiple factors in an effort to boost yields. The one detail that has been recognized so far in making a significant difference is dry-period length. In a study of more than 18,000 cows from 18 commercial U.S. dairies, Westhoff and his colleagues stratified cows into dry-period length of less than 47 days, 47-67 days, and greater than 67 days. They found that colostrum yield increased incrementally with each group. From a commercial production standpoint, he said the data showed managing for a 60-day dry period would yield about 5 pounds more colostrum per cow compared to aiming for a 40-day dry period.

The cows with the longest dry period also had significantly higher Brix %, an indirect assessment of colostrum IgG concentration, than the other two groups, indicating higher quality.
Oxytocin may help boost yield in first-calf heifers – In another study, Dr. Sabine Mann’s team at Cornell University explored whether administering oxytocin 45 seconds before unit attachment during colostrum harvest might help them let down more colostrum. They evaluated 636 cows in one New York herd that were milked in a rotary parlor. They looked at the quantity and quality outcomes of dosing cows intramuscularly with 0, 20, and 40 international units (IU) of oxytocin.

It made a difference in one group – the first-calf heifers that received the highest dose (40 IU) of oxytocin before their first milking. That group produced about 2.9 and 3.5 pounds more colostrum than the 20 IU group and the untreated controls, respectively, without affecting quality. The same response was not observed in second-lactation and older cows.
More is not necessarily better – Westhoff detailed a study (Frederick et al. 2025) of 88 calves that looked at the volume of colostrum delivered relative to subsequent serum IgG concentration and apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of immunoglobulin proteins. They examined first-feeding volumes of 6, 8, 10, and 12% of birth bodyweight. For reference, 9% of bodyweight of a 90-pound calf would equate to ~3.7 liters (~1 gallon) of colostrum, which is a standard first feeding for many dairies.

They found that serum IgG concentration increased substantially between 6% and 8% and increased numerically between 8% and 10%, but bumping that volume from 10% to 12% produced no benefit in serum IgG concentration. Meanwhile, AEA went down incrementally with each higher volume of colostrum. Based on these results, Westhoff advised feeding colostrum in the 8-10% of bodyweight range. He noted there is marginal benefit to “mega-dosing” up to 12%, and it could actually cause physical discomfort to calves to feed them that much. “If you want to get more colostrum into them, come back with a second meal,” he advised.
Heat treatment can create bacterial vulnerability – Heat-treating of colostrum can effectively reduce pathogenic bacteria levels. That can be a valuable step, because high bacteria levels have been proven to interfere with antibody absorption. But it comes with a hazard.

Westhoff said heat-treating colostrum to 140°F for 60 minutes has been shown to reduce bacteria count by a median of 93%. But a Cornell study in which he was involved (McKane et al. 2025) that looked at colostrum after heat-treating told another compelling story. They inoculated heat-treated colostrum, colostrum replacer, raw colostrum, and frozen colostrum with fecal E. coli. At 4 hours through 24 hours later, the colostrum replacer and heat-treated colostrum had significantly higher regrowth of bacteria compared to the raw and frozen samples.

The reason: “Colostrum has natural antimicrobial properties,” Westhoff explained. “When we heat-treat colostrum, we remove its ability to naturally manage that bacteria. This underscores the importance of cooling colostrum very quickly after you remove it from the heat-treatment system.”

Looking forward, Westhoff believes researchers will continue to parse the many factors in the complex system that makes up colostrum synthesis and management, with the hope of arriving at practical improvements that can be made on-farm.

As one example, he said in addition to IgG, colostrum contains valuable minerals, vitamins, hormones, immune cells, and antimicrobial peptides. “In the future, it may become possible to quantify colostrum quality with these or other factors, in addition to IgG,” he predicted.

Does Every Calf Need a Gallon of Colostrum? Not Necessarily

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:04:43 GMT

For years, feeding a gallon of colostrum shortly after birth has been considered the gold standard for calf care. It’s simple, easy to remember and straightforward to train employees to follow. But today’s calves don’t all look the same. With more variation in size, some researchers are asking whether the same volume makes sense for every newborn.

During a recent “Dairy Health Blackbelt” podcast, Dr. Sabine Mann, associate professor at Cornell University, revisited the research behind that long-standing recommendation.

“One of the questions I have gotten frequently is, why are we feeding all calves a gallon of colostrum?” she says. “It’s a pretty widespread management strategy in the U.S. And if you try to dig into the literature of why that came about, there’s actually not that much evidence that that is the best approach for every calf.”

She notes that for an average 85- to 90-pound calf, four liters is probably appropriate. But not every calf falls into that range. When birthweights vary, feeding the same volume across the board may not always match what each individual calf truly needs.

Putting the Gallon Rule to the Test

To take a closer look at the gallon recommendation, Dr. Mann and her team conducted a study on a commercial dairy in collaboration with researchers at the University of Guelph.

They began by pooling colostrum to keep quality consistent across calves. From each pool, four calves were assigned different feeding levels based on a percentage of their body weight.

“We made a big pool of colostrum, and then we assigned four calves to that pool, and one calf got 6% and one calf got 8% and one calf got 10% and one calf got 12% so that was our range, six to 12,” Mann explains.

Rather than giving every calf the same fixed volume, the team adjusted how much colostrum each calf received relative to its size.

The intent was not to create a complicated system requiring producers to weigh every calf and calculate exact doses.

“This is not meant for people to weigh each and every single one of the calves and then figure out the milliliters,” Mann says. “But it’s for us to understand, is there an effect on the calf’s ability to take up IgG into circulation. And if there is, how would we translate this into actionable recommendations on farm.”

Ultimately, the study focused on whether feeding different amounts based on body weight would influence how well calves absorb the antibodies they need early in life.

More Isn’t Always Better

The study looked at how different colostrum volumes (as a percent of body weight) affected IgG in the blood, absorption efficiency, stomach emptying and calf comfort. As expected, bigger feeds gave calves more total IgG

“We found that the more volume they got within a certain quality of colostrum, the more IgG they had in their blood, which makes sense, right? The more you give, the more you get,” Mann says.

But the benefit slowed at the highest volume, 12% of the calf’s body weight.

“There was a declining return on investment, so to say, with increasing volumes,” Mann says. “There was a steep increase from 6% to 8% to 10% of body weight, but only a very small improvement in blood IgG concentration at 12% of body weight.”

This happened because calves absorbed a smaller proportion of the IgG when fed very large amounts.

“The proportion of the IgG in colostrum that actually appears in the blood was declining, meaning that the more volume you put into them, the less proportion the calf can actually take up into that in that window of time.”

When calves get a large meal, their stomach empties more slowly, so less colostrum reaches the intestine while the gut is still “open” to IgG absorption.

“We wanted to see if different volumes affect how the stomach empties colostrum into the intestine, and timing matters because the gut is only open for IgG absorption for a limited period.”

She compared it humans overeating during a holiday meal.

“We do this around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we sit there and our belly hurts, right? Our systems know to slow down the gastric output in those situations, and that’s the same that happens in calves.”

Calf Comfort and Behavior

Dr. Mann’s team also looked at calf behavior, since small calves fed four liters often appear bloated or uncomfortable.

“We were interested in this notion from the field, and we did observe that the more volume we fed, the more we saw behavior associated with colic, like kicking the abdomen,” she says.

While lying time wasn’t significantly affected, higher volumes tended to reduce relaxed resting.

“We didn’t find a statistical effect in lying time, but those calves fed higher volumes tended to lie less in a relaxed position, similar to us at Thanksgiving,” she joked.

The “Goldilocks” Approach

When it comes to determining how much colostrum a calf truly needs, Mann describes the “Goldilocks” approach as the best option.

“I think we’re getting back to a Goldilocks approach where you want to have enough, but you don’t have to give too much,” she says. “Just the right amount is most beneficial to the calf.”

Based on this research, around 10% of a calf’s body weight is a solid target for an initial feeding. That amount provides enough immunoglobulins to support immunity without overwhelming the stomach, and it can be adjusted for smaller or larger calves.

Mann adds that while colostrum is packed with nutrients, extra benefits might be better delivered through multiple feedings rather than one very large meal.

“The nutritive value of colostrum should not be underestimated, but we also have to keep in mind the comfort of the calf,” she says. “Maybe it’s better given in separate feedings. A lot of farms have gone to feeding second feedings or even third feedings of colostrum.”

Practical Takeaways

While colostrum is essential for newborn calf health, Mann emphasizes that the goal isn’t to hit a fixed volume, but to give calves the right start while keeping them comfortable. She provides the following tips to use on the farm:

1. Know your herd’s average birth weight. “A good first step is to know the average birth weight of calves in your herd, since that can vary,” Mann says. “Once you know that, you can adjust the colostrum volume to match your average calf.”

2. Use a couple of standard volumes rather than one fixed size, “Many herds now use two standard volumes, like three liters and four liters. That way, even without a scale, you can look at a calf and decide: this one won’t be over 85 pounds, so it gets the smaller amount,” she says.

3. Consider second or third colostrum feedings. “Instead of giving all the colostrum at once, it can help to split it into two or three feedings if your farm can manage it,” Mann says. “Many people see benefits from this, though we could always use a bit more research to confirm.”

A Closer Look at Delayed Cow-Calf Separation

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:50:52 GMT

Delayed cow-calf separation is a topic that usually gets people talking — whether they are focusing on animal welfare, public perception or personal experience. However, we rarely see the conversation anchored in controlled data. New, yet-to-be-published research from Dr. Adam Beard and his team at Cornell University is changing that, providing a clearer picture of how short-term contact and transition milk feeding affect a calf’s early life.

The study focused on the perinatal period: the final two months of pregnancy through the first two months after birth. This is a time of developmental plasticity, meaning management decisions can have a long-term impact on growth and future performance.

“We were interested in the physiologic impacts of transition milk feeding, as well as the societal components of cow-calf contact — if it’s something that’s feasible, could be implemented and what challenges might there be,” Beard explains.

While we know how much prenatal care matters, the big question remains: Does staying with the mother after birth continue to have a meaningful biological effect?

To find out, researchers set up a controlled study where delayed separation was defined as unrestricted contact for the first five days of life. Calves in this group stayed with their dams, had full social contact and nursed freely.

They were compared to two other groups that were separated immediately: one fed the dam’s transition milk and another fed bulk tank whole milk. To ensure the results weren’t skewed by a poor start, every calf in the study met strict criteria for high-quality colostrum intake and birth vigor.

Does Delayed Separation Affect Passive Transfer of Immunity?

A common worry is that delayed separation might interfere with a calf’s immune system. In this study, it didn’t. All calves received high-quality colostrum (>22% Brix) shortly after birth, and their antibody levels (serum IgG) were the same regardless of whether they stayed with the cow or were moved. This reinforces that the timing and quality of colostrum are the real drivers of immunity, not the housing method.

Impact of Nursing on Calf Growth and Health Risks

For those first five days, nursing calves did appear heavier. However, the researchers found this difference disappeared quickly after separation. The early weight gain was likely just gut fill — a result of nursing frequency — rather than actual tissue growth. By day seven, after all calves had transitioned to a standard feeding schedule, the weights converged and no lasting differences remained.

Health risks are often seen as a major barrier to keeping cows and calves together. However, this data showed no link between delayed separation and a higher frequency of fever or diarrhea.

“Some people might suspect that this would make calves more vulnerable to health challenges,” Beard says. “We just don’t see that here.”

While scours occurred across all groups, the patterns were consistent with what is typically seen in newborns, regardless of the feeding system.

The team followed replacement heifers through nine weeks of age. Across the board, there were no differences in:

Average daily gain
Final body weight
Hip and withers height
Solid feed intake before weaning

How Suckling Affects Cow Milk Yield and Udder Health

While the calves were nursing, there was a predictable drop in salable milk yield. However, production rebounded within 24 hours of separation, and there were no lasting penalties in early lactation.

Interestingly, preliminary findings suggested cows being suckled had higher cure rates for intramammary infections, though that analysis is ongoing. Notably, the study reported no calf injuries or human safety incidents during the contact period.

Is Short-Term Cow-Calf Contact Practical?

“We don’t have any results that are remarkably different between the transition milk, whole milk or transition milk with cow-calf contact, but the outcomes also weren’t any worse for having the calf in the environment with the cow,” Beard says.

This research doesn’t suggest that delayed cow-calf separation is a performance-enhancing tool. When calves already receive great colostrum and consistent management, the growth and health outcomes are largely neutral.

The real takeaway is short-term contact can be implemented without negative effects under controlled conditions. Proving this practice isn’t inherently risky will allow the industry to move past anecdotal fears and look deeper into the biology of transition milk and long-term development.

Prep for the Seasonal Colostrum Slump: Expert Tips to Keep Your Freezers Full

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:36:09 GMT

Right now, it might feel like colostrum is in no short supply. Cows are calving, freezers are full and you might think you’re sitting pretty when it comes to inventory for the remainder of the year. But as the days get shorter and temperatures begin to cool, many operations will start to experience a perplexing challenge when it comes to feeding calves – lower colostrum yields.

“Many farms experience a common issue that leaves farmers and calf managers scratching their heads: declines in colostrum production during the fall and winter months,” says Katelyn Goldsmith, dairy outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “This problem can make it difficult to quickly feed calves high-quality colostrum in adequate quantities.”

While this seasonal slump is common, it doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With the right planning and management, you can stay ahead of the dip and maintain control over your colostrum supply.

Why Does it Happen?

While there’s no sure answer as to why colostrum production takes a dip during the fall and winter, research points to two key factors: shorter daylight hours and lower temperature-humidity index (THI).

As days shorten after June, cows receive less light, and cooler, drier conditions set in. Both have been linked to lower colostrum yield. Goldsmith notes that in one Texas study, average colostrum production fell from 14.5 lb. in June to just 5.5 lb. in December. Older cows were especially affected.

Similar seasonal declines have been observed in studies across New York, Michigan and Europe. While genetics, nutrition and lactation history play a significant role, the consistent pattern suggests that reduced light and lower THI are major drivers of the slump.

How to Prepare

To minimize the impact of seasonal dips, Goldsmith recommends focusing on what you can control. She provides the following strategies to help you get ahead of the slump:

Pay Attention to Dry Period Length: Ensuring cows have an adequate dry period length is crucial. Cows with short dry periods tend to produce lower yields of colostrum. Goldsmith notes a 45- to- 60-day dry period is considered ideal.
Minimize Environmental Stress: Dry cows should have consistent and adequate access to feed and water, especially during the summer months. Limited or restricted feed and water access can reduce dry matter intakes, negatively affecting colostrum production.
Encourage Colostrum Let Down: During milking, maintain a calm and low-stress environment. Ensure cows are properly prepped prior to attaching milking units and that they are completely milked out before unit removal.

“Colostrum quality decreases when harvest is delayed,” she adds. “For best quality, harvesting colostrum less than 8 hours post-calving is recommended.”
Consider Oxytocin for First-lactation Cows: Administering oxytocin has been shown to promote colostrum let down and increase yield in first-lactation cows. Recent research found first-lactation cows produced 3.5 lb. more colostrum when administered an appropriate dose of oxytocin compared to untreated cows. If considering this route, farmers should discuss with their veterinarian whether or not using oxytocin fits with their operation.
Assess Feed Additives: Recent studies have found feed additives such as choline or calcidiol in dry cow diets have improved colostrum yields. When evaluating feed additives, ensure they are research-backed products that have been assessed for their impact on colostrum production.

Managing Supply When Yields Are Low

Even with the best preparation, there may be times when colostrum is in short supply. That’s where smart inventory management comes in.

“A well-stocked colostrum bank can be a lifesaver during periods of low production,” Goldsmith says. “Use a tool such as a Brix refractometer to assess colostrum quality and store it accordingly.”

And when stored colostrum isn’t available, be ready with a replacer. Goldsmith recommends selecting a replacer — not supplement — that will provide newborn calves with 300 grams of immunoglobulin G (IgG).

“Since providing extra daylight is not possible for many farms, the potential adverse effects of the colostrum shortage must be addressed through well-planned banking of high-quality colostrum and the use of colostrum replacement strategies when necessary,” Goldsmith says.

And as always, be sure to follow proper storage practices.

“Colostrum should be refrigerated for no more than one day or frozen for up to a year to maintain quality,” she says. “Properly label colostrum and store it in a clean environment to prevent contamination.”

Stay Ahead of the Slump

Seasonal drops in colostrum can be frustrating but it helps to know why they happen and how to prepare. Shorter days and cooler temps can lower yields in fall and winter, but good management can make a difference. Focus on a proper dry period, build a strong colostrum bank and keep quality replacers ready to protect calves when inventories get low. With planning, you can keep freezers stocked with high-quality colostrum to ensure calves stay well nourished.

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Don't Settle for Mediocre: How to Make Moderate Quality Colostrum Work

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:07:47 GMT

As all calf feeders know, not all colostrum is created equal. Some fresh colostrum is rich in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and ideal for newborn calves. Some is poor in quality and unsuitable for feeding. And then there’s the “Goldilocks” kind that falls somewhere in the middle. It’s not too bad but not quite good enough either.

This in-between category often leaves producers in a bind. Do you feed it as-is and risk inadequate passive transfer? Do you discard it and rely on frozen reserves or replacer? Or is there a better way to make moderate-quality colostrum just right?

A recent study, conducted by the University of Minnesota and published in the Journal of Dairy Science, explored a practical solution: enriching moderate-quality maternal colostrum with commercial colostrum replacer (CR) powder. Specifically, researchers asked whether the powder could be added directly to the colostrum without being reconstituted in water first and still deliver strong immunity to calves, without negative effects on health or digestion. Their findings suggest a straightforward way to make colostrum feedings more consistent when top-quality colostrum isn’t on hand.

A Practical and Safe Option
The researchers found that adding dry CR powder straight into moderate-quality maternal colostrum is an effective way to enhance its immune benefits. Calves fed the enriched colostrum reached blood IgG levels that were statistically similar to those fed naturally high-quality colostrum. And importantly, these calves did not experience digestive upset, poor appetite or abnormal behavior.

The researchers compared this method to one where the CR was first mixed with water and then added to the colostrum. While both methods improved IgG levels over unenriched colostrum, the direct-mix approach performed slightly better. In addition, it avoided the added liquid volume, which can make feeding more difficult, especially when tubing calves.

One concern with enriching colostrum is how the added ingredients might change the colostrum’s physical properties, particularly its concentration. Osmolality, or the concentration of dissolved particles in colostrum, can affect how easily a calf digests its first feeding. In this study, however, adding dry colostrum replacer powder directly into maternal colostrum did not appear to cause any digestive issues or affect calf performance.

Not All Powders Are Created Equal
While the results are encouraging, the researchers say it is important to note this study evaluated only one commercial colostrum replacer product. Replacers can vary widely in their ingredients, solubility and osmolality. Thus, a method that proves effective with one product might not produce the same results with another. For that reason, any adjustments to colostrum feeding protocols should be made in consultation with a veterinarian or nutritionist.

Still, this method offers flexibility. On days when your colostrum supply is good but not great, enrichment with dry powder might be a simple and cost-effective way to ensure every calf gets the strong start it needs.

Use Frozen Colostrum Within 8 Months for Best Results

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:36:59 GMT

Keeping frozen colostrum on hand is a practical part of calf care. It helps ensure newborns get what they need when fresh supply is limited or timing isn’t ideal. But as that freezer fills up, it’s worth asking: How long can colostrum sit before its quality starts to decline?

“Saving excess colostrum is a great way to make sure calves get what they need, even when fresh supply is tight,” says Sarah Morrison, research scientist at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute. “But it’s not just about having it on hand, it’s about protecting its quality. And that starts with how we freeze, store, label and thaw it.”

Historically, it was commonly accepted and promoted that colostrum could be stored in a non-frost-free freezer for up to a year. But new research from Cornell University (JDS Communications, 2025, Vol. 6:406–410) has taken a closer look at frozen colostrum over time. Researchers evaluated samples stored at -20°C (-4°F) for up to one year and analyzed key indicators including Brix %, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), insulin and total plate count.

They found that IgM, IgA and bacteria counts held steady, but IgG, insulin and Brix % decreased as freezer time increased. After 32 weeks, about eight months, IgG had declined by roughly 8% compared to fresh colostrum.

“That tells us that colostrum is still usable after eight months in the freezer, but it might not be your best option for a first feeding,” Morrison explains. “The first feeding is your one chance to really nail passive transfer, so you want that IgG level to be as strong as possible.”

Instead, colostrum older than eight months might be better suited for second feedings or backup scenarios while newer, high-IgG colostrum should be prioritized for a calf’s first meal.

Not All Freezers Are Equal
The freezer itself plays a key role in maintaining colostrum quality. Many farms rely on chest freezers, but Morrison warns against using frost-free models.

“Frost-free freezers go through cycles to prevent ice buildup, and those temperature changes also affect the colostrum,” she says. “If there’s any bacterial contamination, that fluctuation can give it a chance to grow. And the proteins we’re trying to preserve, especially IgG, can degrade when frozen and thawed repeatedly.”

Instead, use a non-frost-free freezer set at -20°C (-4°F). Label each colostrum container with the cow ID, date of collection and Brix % reading if available. While Brix will decline over time, it’s still a reliable quality indicator when taken at the time of collection.

“When considering the lower Brix %, I would encourage the use of this at the time of colostrum collection and not worry about measuring this after it’s been frozen,” she says.

Smart Thawing and One-Time Use
Thawing colostrum correctly is just as important as storing it. Labeling might seem like a small step, but it’s crucial for inventory management and quality control. Without it, producers might unknowingly feed colostrum that’s aged past its optimal window.

“On the label, include cow identification number and date of collection,” Morrison advises. “Furthermore, if your farm is measuring colostrum quality with a Brix, include the number on the label.”

Just as important as how colostrum is frozen is how it’s thawed. Mishandling during this phase can reduce the effectiveness of even the best-quality colostrum.

“When thawing, use a hot water bath of 40°C (104°F),” she says. “Warmer temperatures >60°C (140°F) should not be used as this can denature the proteins in the colostrum.”

And once it’s thawed, don’t plan to refreeze it.

While the Cornell study used high-quality colostrum, more research is needed to understand how lower-quality samples respond to long-term freezing. Even so, the key takeaway is to label clearly, manage by collection date, and protect frozen colostrum as a valuable part of your calf care program.

“Colostrum isn’t something we can afford to take chances with,” Morrison says. “It’s worth asking: Do you know how old the colostrum is in your freezer? Are you using the oldest first? Maybe it’s time to add a ‘Best By’ date on your bags.”

Can Oxytocin Boost Colostrum?

Mon, 05 May 2025 18:30:32 GMT

The value of colostrum continues to rise, as both a calf-health enhancement, and possibly an additional source of farm revenue.

Researchers at Cornell University recently completed a study to evaluate whether supplemental oxytocin at the first milking could improve colostrum volume, quality, or both.

Working with a commercial dairy with more than 5,000 cows, fresh cows were treated intramuscularly with either 40 international units (IU) of oxytocin, 20 IU of oxytocin, or no oxytocin. The cows were milked in a rotary parlor, and treated approximately 45 seconds before attachment of the milker until.

Colostrum yield was measured via weight, and quality was evaluated for total immunoglobulin G (IgG) using radial immunodiffusion. Dry-matter percentage was determined via oven drying.

After evaluating a total of 636 fresh cows, including 201 first-calf heifers, the researchers found:

The median colostrum yield, encompassing all cows in all treatment groups, was 13.2 lb./cow. This number ranged from 0-45.4 lb.
The median IgG content was 98.5 g/L.
First-calf heifers responded favorably to the highest dose of oxytocin (40 IU). The average production of the 40-IU group was 11.9 lb./cow, compared to 9.0 lb./cow for the 20-IU group, and 8.4 lb./cow for the untreated control group.
Multiparous cows did not show the same production response to oxytocin, with no significant difference in colostrum yield between treatments.
There were, however, sub-groups of cows in the multiparous population that did show a significant production response to the highest dose of oxytocin. They included second-calf cows; cows giving birth to male calves; cows with the highest milk production at week 4 of lactation; and cows with a dry period longer than 65 days.
In terms of quality, oxytocin use had no influence on IgG levels in either first-calf or multiparous cows. As a whole, and independent of oxytocin dosage, IgG concentration was significantly higher for 4th-lactation and older cows, and cows with dry periods of longer than 65 days.

The Cornell researchers concluded that the supplemental oxytocin was valuable in helping first-calf heifers achieve milk let-down as they navigated the novel stressors of being milked for the first time in a rotary parlor. The treatment had little appreciable effect, however, on the colostrum yield of older cows, or the quality of colostrum produced by any animals in the study.

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Enhancing Maternal Colostrum for Optimal Calf Health and Performance

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:58:58 GMT

Colostrum is the cornerstone of calf health, providing essential antibodies, nutrients, and growth factors critical for survival and development. However, not all maternal colostrum meets the quality and quantity needed to establish robust passive immunity. Enriching maternal colostrum offers a solution to bridge this gap, ensuring every calf receives the best start to life.

The Role of Colostrum in Immunity and Growth Maternal

Colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins (primarily IgG), which protect newborn calves from pathogens during the vulnerable early weeks of life. It also contains essential nutrients, hormones, and bioactive compounds that support gut health, thermoregulation, and overall growth. Calves rely entirely on colostrum to acquire passive immunity because their immune systems are not fully functional at birth. Without adequate colostrum, calves are at significant risk for disease, poor growth, and mortality.

Challenges with Maternal Colostrum

Despite its importance, maternal colostrum often falls short in quality or quantity. Factors such as poor nutrition, health issues like mastitis, or stress during late gestation can reduce colostrum quality. Additionally, some dams may produce insufficient colostrum, leaving calves at risk of Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT). FPT occurs when calves fail to absorb enough antibodies, leading to higher susceptibility to illness, reduced performance, and, in severe cases, death

The Value of Enrichment

Enrichment of maternal colostrum involves adding high-quality colostrum powder to supplement or replace deficient colostrum. Enriching maternal colostrum is essential in several scenarios to ensure calves receive the immunity and energy they need to thrive. Low antibody concentrations, detected using a refractometer or colostrometer, indicate insufficient IgG levels, and enrichment is recommended when Brix readings fall below 25%. If dams produce inadequate volumes of colostrum, enrichment helps provide enough for each calf. Health issues like mastitis can compromise colostrum quality, making enrichment a reliable, high-quality alternative. Additionally, under stressful conditions such as harsh weather or calving stress, enrichment supports calves by supplying critical energy and immunity.

Benefits of Enrichment for Dairy Producers

It enhances calf immunity by ensuring adequate antibody transfer, reducing the risk of disease and the need for antibiotics or veterinary interventions. Calves fed enriched colostrum also achieve better growth rates, leading to higher weaning weights and improved long-term productivity. Additionally, enrichment improves operational efficiency by lowering costs associated with health complications and boosting herd performance. It provides a flexible, reliable solution when colostrum quality is unpredictable, ensuring consistent and effective calf care.

Implementing Colostrum Enrichment

Colostrum enrichment is a simple process that can be customized to meet farm-specific needs. Producers should start by testing maternal colostrum quality with a refractometer to identify when enrichment is required, such as when Brix readings fall below 25% or volume is insufficient. Choosing a trusted colostrum powder that aligns with farm goals and calf needs is essential. To ensure maximum antibody absorption, enriched colostrum should be fed promptly, ideally within the first two hours after birth.

Enriching maternal colostrum is a practical and effective strategy to address the challenges of colostrum management. By ensuring every calf receives high-quality colostrum, producers can improve calf health, enhance growth, and increase overall productivity. Investing in colostrum enrichment is an investment in the future success of the herd and the dairy operation.

Winter-Born Calves May Benefit From a Colostrum Boost

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 21:30:49 GMT

When Old Man Winter moves in, he brings with him harsher conditions that leave newborn calves fighting harder for survival compared to their herd mates born in more temperate seasons.

“We have seen a lot of problems with calves that are born during the winter and somehow are not housed as well,” said Dr. Carla Maris Machodo Bittar, associate professor at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazile. Whether it’s due to their being born wet in cold conditions, wind, or simply needing more energy to maintain their core body temperature, Bittar said winter-born calves have more demands on their resources.

On a recent episode of the Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt podcast , Bittar shared the results of a study in which colostrum feeding volume was increased incrementally, then the impacts of a cold challenge were measured.

Thirty male Holstein calves were divided into 3 feeding groups, with colostrum delivered at 10, 15, and 20% of bodyweight (BW). In all groups, the feedings were divided, with the first dose administered by 2 hours of age, and the second 6 hours later.

At 24 hours of age, calves were placed in a walk-in cooler set at 10°C (50°F) for 150 minutes. Skin and rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates, and shivering were measured every 15 minutes. Blood samples were taken every 30 minutes. Afterward, all calves were raised on a consistent nutrition program and housed in identical conditions, including ambient temperature.

Feed intake, fecal scores, and rectal temperature were recorded daily until 56 days of age. Blood samples, bodyweight, and body measurements were taken weekly. Findings included:

During the cold challenge, prescapular temperature and total serum protein were greater for calves fed colostrum at 15% or 20% of BW.
Leukocytes increased preweaning, presenting higher values for calves fed colostrum at 20% of BW.
Shivering incidence during the cold challenge was lowest for the calves fed colostrum at 20% BW, followed linearly by the 15% group and then the 10% group, which demonstrated the greatest amount of shivering.
There was no difference among treatments for heart rate during the cold challenge, but respiratory rate was highest among calves fed the lowest amount of colostrum (10%).
Feeding higher volumes of colostrum resulted in no difference in performance during the rest of preweaned phase.
The calves fed the highest amount of colostrum (20% of BW) showed increased immune response – measured via serum total proteins and immunoglobulins -- during the preweaned phase.

“We may have the opportunity to increase colostrum feeding from the current recommendation of 15% of bodyweight to 20%,” Bittar observed.

Podcast host Bill Weis asked Bittar whether she thought to boost in colostrum dose could be beneficial to immunity even under thermoneutral conditions.

“Yes, for sure,” she stated. “We have data showing that the more immunoglobulins, nutrients, and bioactive compounds that are present in colostrum are consumed and absorbed, the better the health and performance of the calves.

Bittar’s full study, published in the journal Animals, can be accessed here .

Fall Brings Low Tide for Colostrum Output

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:05:24 GMT

The end of summer means more than cooler nights, changing leaves, and football Fridays. It also brings with it a downward shift in colostrum production on dairy farms.

This seasonal shift is more than just a casual, on-farm observation. Washington State University researchers recently conducted a study examining the colostrum output patterns of nearly 3,000 cows on a Texas dairy. They found that:

Cows produced an average of 9.4 pounds per head when averaged throughout the year. But that production ranged from a high of 58.4 pounds per head, to a low of no colostrum at all.
The months of highest colostrum production were May and June, at an average of 10.6 and 14.5 pounds per day, respectively. December was the lowest month, with an average of just 5.5 pounds per head produced.
Second-calf and older cows took the biggest seasonal hit. A stunning 35% of them produced no colostrum in December, compared to just 1% of first-calf heifers. Mature cows that calved in June produced 3 times more colostrum than their mature herd mates that calved in December.

Similarly, Cornell University researchers studied colostrum yield in 19 New York Holstein herds. Their results showed that the risk of a cow not producing any colostrum in December was nearly 10%, compared to just 3% in June. They observed the lowest colostrum yield in October for first-calf heifers and February for older cows.

And a Michigan State University study that stratified colostrum production from 3 commercial Michigan herds by season showed that average first-milking, per-head output was lowest in Winter (4.5 quarts), compared to Spring (5.7 quarts), Summer (6.2 quarts), and Fall (5.7 quarts).

Why the shift? While hard answers are in short supply, researchers point to photoperiod as one of the causes. Michigan State University Extension Dairy Specialist Martin Mangual explained that fewer daylight hours increases the concentration of melatonin secreted by the cow’s pineal gland.

“On days with a short photoperiod, melatonin concentrations are high and could inhibit the release of the hormones prolactin and IGF-1,” he noted. “These hormones are essential for the induction and maintenance of lactation.” Mangual also noted that changes in ambient temperature have not been correlated through research with changes in colostrum output.

While you can’t change the number of minutes Mother Nature is awake, some nutritional and management measures can support higher colostrum production. Rod Martin, Dairy Nutritionist and Business Development Consultant with Protekta , suggested dialing into pre-fresh nutrition by examining the factors that affect dry-matter intake like bunk management, particle size, moisture, and forage fermentation consistency.

Martin said the popularity of adding bulk to pre-fresh rations via straw and grass hay may lead to a higher incidence of ration sorting and introduce antagonists that interfere with the hormonal changes required for colostrum synthesis. He also advised working with a nutritionist to examine water access and intake for dry cows; metabolizable protein levels; energy intake; and vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Two other factors that could help are leaving the newborn calf with the dam longer (possibly facilitated with use of a “ Cuddle Box ”) and optimizing dry-period length. “Dry periods of less than 50 days are associated with lower colostrum yield,” stated Martin.

In the short term Mangual recommended advance preparation of on-farm colostrum stores , and/or stocking high-quality colostrum replacer, to address colostrum needs in anticipation of upcoming months of shortage.

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Selling “Liquid Gold” Adds Black to Dairy Farms’ Bottom Lines

Thu, 23 May 2024 19:01:08 GMT

When Travis Todd with Zinpro Corporation stopped at Linda Greenwood’s Canton, N.Y. dairy more than 16 years ago, she wasn’t very interested in talking to him.

“I thought, ‘Oh, no, here comes another salesman trying to sell me something I don’t want to buy,” Greenwood says.

But as it turned out, he was actually trying to buy something from her. Todd is in charge of Zinpro’s colostrum procurement program, which purchases colostrum from dairy farms and processes it into animal health and nutrition applications.

A Profitable Routine

“When I figured out what he wanted, I still told him no,” Greenwood says. She couldn’t imagine giving up valuable colostrum, which she needed to feed to the newborns at Greenwood Dairy, a 1,500-cow operation that she and her husband, Jon, started from scratch in 1978. Today, her son, Ted, and his wife, Hibby, also work in the business.

“Then I talked to another dairyman who was working with them. He told me they would take second-milking and heifer colostrum, which I was able to spare,” she explained. “So, I made a quick call to Travis, and he got me started. We laugh about it now; we’ve had a great relationship ever since.”

Today, Greenwood Dairy sells approximately 400 gal. of colostrum per month to Zinpro. It is stored in 4-gal. plastic, lidded pails supplied by the company and frozen in freezers also supplied by Zinpro. The farm’s only outlay is electricity to power the freezers, and labor to harvest and store the colostrum. The freezer storage area needs to be indoors in a climate-controlled space. Zinpro picks the colostrum up weekly, and brings a fresh supply of sterilized storage buckets.

After their initial postcalving milking, which is reserved for the dairy’s calves, the Greenwoods mark fresh cows with a green leg band, alerting the milking crew that the subsequent milking should be harvested for freezer colostrum. The extra effort is definitely worth the revenue procured by selling their excess liquid gold.

Colostrum Demands Soars

Demand for colostrum is exploding. A recent market assessment by Future Market Insights Inc. (FMI) estimated the global value of colostrum sold in 2023 was $1.49 billion. That figure is projected to see a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% for the next decade.

The applications for powdered, dehydrated bovine colostrum have spanned far beyond its original roots in nourishing calves. Colostrum is now being used in the human market for everything from bodybuilding supplements to baked nutrition bars, and protein powders to skin creams. Many health-conscious individuals also take it regularly via capsules, powder and chewable tablets.

FMI says colostrum is loaded with bioactive compounds and nutrients. It is a significant source of protein, and its antibodies are valuable in boosting immune systems and enhancing gastrointestinal health. Marketers also claim colostrum has anti-aging properties because it promotes cell regeneration and thus improves the skin’s suppleness and thickness.

Colostrum also has probiotic properties. A large percentage of consumers have embraced probiotics such as lactobacillus and acidophilus in an effort to prevent ulcerative colitis and colon cancer by supporting a healthy intestinal environment. Both are found abundantly in colostrum. On the animal side, calves aren’t the only creatures on the receiving end of colostrum products. Adam Geiger, manager of the colostrum division for Zinpro, says their colostrum ingredients also reach small ruminants, horses and companion animals.

Enabling Extra Revenue

“We continue to look for suppliers,” Geiger says, noting the company has 79 collection routes spanning 11 regions of the U.S. He says they are flexible in terms of farm size, but proximity along a route is necessary.

Farms that sell colostrum to Zinpro must have a comprehensive herd vaccination program and demonstrate that they adhere to sanitary colostrum harvest protocols. Geiger says they also are counseled to prioritize their own herd’s colostrum needs over sales.

A route driver picks up the frozen pails and delivers them to a Zinpro facility, where a patented process fractionates the fat and casein, increasing the animal’s ability to absorb immunoglobulin G (IgG). The resultant IgG level in Zinpro colostrum powder is a robust 50%, well above industry standards. Processing also includes a bacterial reduction step to ensure clean and consistent product quality.

Like Zinpro, Saskatchewan-based SCCL remains firmly in the animal market. “Collecting colostrum has become more common and competitive since its popularity has grown as an all-natural, bioactive superfood for human consumption and as an ingredient in many pharmaceutical and cosmetic products,” says Jeff Langemeier, USA sales manager. “But SCCL’s focus today is the same as when we were founded 30 years ago: developing innovative colostrum products and applications to optimize calf health and to create stronger herds and more sustainable dairy systems.”

Langemeier acknowledged selling colostrum into human and animal markets “is a growing opportunity for dairy producers to capture a diversified revenue stream, especially during times of low milk prices.”

Compensation plans vary, but conservatively, producers can expect to be paid at least double the commercial milk price for their colostrum.

Linda Greenwood estimated their annual colostrum-sales revenue at approximately $20,000. She uses a portion of those proceeds to keep her calf program ship-shape.

“If I want to order new calf jackets or feeding equipment, I’ve always got colostrum money to do that,” she says.

Turns Out "Liquid Gold” May Not Be Gold At All

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:39:31 GMT

Colostrum has earned the unofficial moniker “liquid gold,” because of its typically golden color, along with the golden benefits it confers for calf health, growth, and lifetime performance.

But there’s a common misconception that colostrum’s gold color is indicative of its quality. That’s not necessarily the case, according to Hanne Skovsgaard Pedersen, a veterinarian, researcher, and calf specialist with Denmark-based ColoQuick .

“When I go out on farms, I often hear that we can evaluate colostrum by looking at its color and viscosity.” Pedersen stated on a recent colostrum webinar sponsored by AVA Group Inc. “But we’ve learned that there is not a very strong correlation between color, viscosity, and antibody concentration.”

Pedersen shared an example of three first-milking colostrum batches harvested the same morning on a single dairy. They ranged in appearance from thick and bright, golden yellow; to relatively thin and nearly white.

Evaluation for quality with a Brix refractometer yielded surprising results. The best sample? The thin, white batch, with a Brix reading of 27. The thick, yellow batch showed a Brix reading of 18, while the intermediate-appearing batch scored 21. In this example, true quality was actually the direct inverse of perceived quality by visual assessment alone.

In addition to measuring colostrum quality, Pedersen emphasized timely administration, explaining that the sieve-like permeations in the intestinal wall close rapidly in the hours after birth, so the time window in which antibodies can be distributed into the bloodstream is small.

Likewise, heavy bacteria loads can clog that distribution process, so hygienic harvest and handling of colostrum are also critical. Proper handling also helps to preserve the antibodies and bioactive compounds in colostrum, according to Pedersen.

Pasteurizing colostrum can help to ensure clean colostrum, but it also can be a cumbersome process. ColoQuick has developed a closed-loop system in which colostrum is pasteurized and frozen in the same liner bag that fits inside a sturdy, plastic cartridge. When a calf is born, the cartridge can be removed from the freezer, thawed for 20 minutes, and fed immediately to the calf – even before the dam is milked.

When her colostrum is harvested, it should be tested for quality, and – if it meets the dairy’s standards -- pasteurized and frozen via the same process. Upon use, the water bath unit spins the cartridge 360°, which allows for complete and uniform thawing of both the periphery and center of each dose of frozen colostrum. ColoQuick also offers nipple and esophageal feeder attachments, so colostrum can be fed directly from the bag.

For all of its merits, colostrum is only as valuable as the efforts invested in managing it. Pedersen said intentional colostrum management requires setting goals for hygienic harvest; quality, sorting, and delivery; well-defined management protocols; and ongoing data monitoring.

“Colostrum itself is not the main factor for success. Rather, it is the way you handle and process it,” she stated. “You can have the best colostrum on hand, but if it is not processed correctly, then the potential is lost.”

For more on calf health, read:

Can We Improve Colostrum Through Dam Nutrition?

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:41:40 GMT

Is there a way to remodel the colostrum factory to boost the quality of this magical elixir, and/or produce more of it? Two recent articles in the Journal of Dairy Science explored the connections between dam nutrition and colostrum outcomes.

The first, published in the May 2023 issue of the journal, was a review by Irish researchers of previous studies related to maternal nutrition and colostrum production and quality. Their analysis showed a mixed bag of results.

Some studies proved a positive correlation between various dam nutrition factors like body condition score (BCS) changes and dietary crude protein (CP) on colostrogenesis and/or IgG content. However, other studies showed no or opposite effects of the same factors.

Two promising outcomes that did surface in their review were:

Feeding ruminally protected amino acids to close-up cows showed that protected lysine and methionine diets increased colostrum total protein content (Brix units), calf serum total protein and IgG (0-7 days), and preweaning average daily gain (ADG).
Feeding mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) to close-up cows increased colostrum yield (but not quality or calf outcomes) in one study. In another, it improved calf colostrum-derived rotavirus antibody titers in response to maternal vaccination.

In terms of ration composition and BCS impacts on colostrum, the Irish researchers noted that the “Golidilocks principle” applied, in the sense that the best colostrum outcomes resulted from rations that were “just right.” “In general, the ability to significantly alter colostrum yield or quality by dietary means is limited once the metabolizable energy and protein requirements of the cow are met, but not unmet or exceeded,” they noted.

The second article, published in the journal’s July 2023 issue , shared results of a surveillance project among New York dairy herds by researchers at Cornell University. Their goal was to identify prepartum metabolic indicators and farm-level nutrition strategies associated with colostrum yield and quality (measured by Brix %).

The study included 19 commercial New York dairies ranging from 600 to 4,600 cows. Feed samples from prepartum diets were analyzed for chemical composition and particle size. Prepartum blood serum samples were evaluated for glucose and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Whole blood from postpartum cows was analyzed for herd prevalence of hyperketonemia.

Resultant data also was stratified by parity – primiparous (first-calf) cows versus multiparous dams. Like the Irish evaluation, results in this study were mixed – in this case, between parities -- and yielded few simple, “blanket” recommendations.

One area of consistency between parities was that the greatest colostrum yield for both primiparous and multiparous cows was associated with moderate starch (18.6-22.5% of dry matter), and a moderate herd prevalence of hyperketonemia (10.1-15.0%). Both parity groups also showed the highest colostrum Brix % was associated with low prepartum NDF (<39% of dry matter) and a high proportion of the diet with particle length of >19mm.

The Cornell authors concluded that, rather than hard-and-fast guidelines, their results provide prepartum variables to consider when troubleshooting colostrum production and quality on farms.

For more on calf management, read:

Calves May Have to Share Their Colostrum with Humans

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 19:48:32 GMT

You already knew colostrum was good for calves, but did you know bovine colostrum might be good for humans, too?

What is Colostrum?

Bovine colostrum is the “first milk” a cow produces immediately after giving birth. It is distinct from regular milk because it is packed with vitamins, minerals, and special proteins designed to jump-start a newborn calf’s immune system, which the calf is born without.

While nature intended this fluid to help calves survive and fight disease, a growing body of research is uncovering the merits of bovine colostrum for human health applications. A recent review article published in the human scientific journal, Frontiers in Nutrition , explored the nutritional and bioactive elements of colostrum, and their potential applications to human health.

The authors said laboratory evaluation of colostrum has identified a wealth of potentially bioactive molecules in colostrum. Additionally, they said “protein, fats, glycans, minerals, and vitamins are abundant in colostrum, and advances in dairy processing technologies have enabled the advancement of bovine colostrum from relative limitations of a fresh and unprocessed food, to a variety of potential applications in human health.”

How is Colostrum Harvested from Cows for Humans?

Harvesting raw colostrum is a careful process that relies on timing and temperature. Farmers collect colostrum using standard milking machines, but the highest quality colostrum—packed with the most antibodies—must be gathered during the first milking, usually within the first 6 to 24 hours after the cow gives birth. After that, the nutrient levels drop quickly as the fluid turns into regular milk.

A common concern is whether the calves go hungry. A healthy cow usually produces about 10–15 liters of colostrum, while her calf only needs about 4–5 liters to survive. Farmers ensure the calf gets its share first, and the surplus is collected for humans.

Benefits of Bovine Colostrum for Humans

Bovine colostrum supplements have been used for decades by elite athletes seeking improved body composition and exercise performance.

Researchers also have found favorable results in administering bovine colostrum as a companion dose for patients who routinely take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDS are commonly used to treat pain, chronic inflammation, and degenerative joint disease. However, their long-term use can leave patients with digestive complications like peptic ulcers and intestinal damage. Giving bovine colostrum concurrently with NSAIDs has been shown to reduce these negative side effects.

By creating “hyperimmune” bovine colostrum, researchers have produced special colostrum formulations that target a specific disease-causing organism. The cows are vaccinated against certain organisms, which creates higher levels of antibodies to fight those organisms in their colostrum, which then is processed for human medicine applications.

A WebMD summary listed potential effectiveness of bovine colostrum as a preventative agent for infectious diarrhea in children; airway infections caused by exercise; diarrhea in people with HIV/AIDS; and influenza, particularly in individuals who have already been vaccinated for the flu, and/or are at higher risk for getting the flu. It also has shown promise as a treatment for diarrhea in children caused by rotavirus, and as a protective agent against “Travelers Diarrhea” caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).

The casein in colostrum contains peptides that can help with immune regulation and have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The other protein fraction in colostrum – whey – is rich in amino acids, and has been found to have antimicrobial properties and promote healing.

The Frontiers in Nutrition article stated bovine colostrum shows tremendous promise as a “functional food” or food ingredient. But processing techniques to separate bioactive fractions from colostrum need to be fine-tuned to enhance product development.

Individuals allergic to cow’s milk or who have lactose intolerance should not consume colostrum products. Bovine colostrum also contains estrogen, so it may not be advisable for individuals at risk for estrogen-fed cancers like breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

The power of colostrum continues to reveal itself, in the worlds of both bovine health and productivity, and human health management.

Does Acidification Improve Colostrum?

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:37:08 GMT

Feeding acidified milk to preweaned calves has been shown in some studies to improve calf health and performance.

But what about colostrum? Could acidification be beneficial to it as well? A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a preliminary study to find out.

Their research project, summarized recently in the Journal of Dairy Science , was based on previous work by their team that showed calves with diarrhea had a loss of beneficial digestive-tract bacteria, which were replaced by detrimental pathogens that caused digestive illness.

They sought to determine whether acidifying colostrum could serve as a proxy for pasteurization, with the goal of lowering harmful bacterial levels fed via colostrum. Acidification has been shown to decrease bacterial loads in milk by lowering the pH to 4.0-4.5.

Additionally, they wanted to evaluate the fecal microbiota of calves fed acidified colostrum compared to those fed standard colostrum.

The study compared results from 5 calves fed acidified colostrum versus 5 calves fed untreated colostrum. All colostrum contained at least 24% Brix to ensure quality, and each batch was pooled between two dams.

Calves in both groups were fed 4 quarts of colostrum within 1 hour of birth, and an additional 2 quarts 12 hours later. The acidified colostrum was treated immediately before feeding with 9% formic acid, with a target pH of 4.0-4.5. [The researchers noted the experimental use of formic acid in this study. In the U.S., only citric acid and potassium sorbate are FDA-approved methods of acidifying milk for calves].

Both study groups were fed acidified milk for the remainder of their milk-feeding phase. Fecal samples were collected at 24 hours and 48 hours after birth, and then weekly until weaning at 8 weeks. DNA extraction and evaluation were performed to assess bacterial populations in the gut microbiota over time.

The researchers found that the calves fed acidified colostrum had significantly higher levels of the beneficial bacterial Faecalibacterium at 1 week of age. Faecalibacterium is known to produce butyrate, a key, short-chain fatty acid that promotes development of the intestinal tract lining in ruminants.

Previous research studies have linked Faecalibacterium to improved weight gain and decreased diarrhea incidence in preweaned calves. Those studies also showed that Faecalibacterium grows most readily in pH conditions at 4.0-4.5.

The researchers deduced that acidifying colostrum may help jump-start Faecalibacterium production in the digestive tract in the first week of life. Its populations normally would not start increasing until week 2 of life.

Although they acknowledged the study’s sample size was small, the team concluded that feeding acidified colostrum to dairy calves at birth may lead to early colonization of Faecalibacterium, possibly leading to supporting improvement in health and growth performance early in life.

For more on calf management, read:

Here’s Why Cows Produce Less Colostrum During the Fall and Winter

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:15:09 GMT

When a cow freshens during the fall or winter, have you noticed that she tends to produce less colostrum than her herd mates who calved during the spring and summer? It’s not a coincidence, yet little is known as to why this phenomenon occurs. Recent research, however, is shedding a little more ‘light’ on the situation.

A study by Gavin and colleagues conducted on a Texas dairy herd evaluated the colostrum production and quality of 2,988 Jersey cows during a year to assess possible effects of photoperiod, temperature, and cow factors on colostrum production. The average colostrum production for the herd stood at 9.4 lb. with a range of 0 to 58.4 lb. produced.

The research team noted a considerable variation in colostrum production throughout the year, with average colostrum production of 14.5 lbs. in June, 5.5 lbs. in January, and 10.6 lbs. in May. They also observed that cows with more than one lactation had a more significant decline in colostrum production from June to December, on average, compared to first lactation heifers, with 35% of them producing no colostrum in December compared to 1% of the first lactation heifers.

It was discovered that an animal’s photoperiod, also known as the amount of time a cow receives light, was the main factor that affected colostrum production. They observed that longer sunlight duration 21 days before and at calving day strongly correlated with greater colostrum yield.

A similar study conducted in Michigan found corresponding results. The study, which was conducted by Rossi and co-authors, evaluated three commercial Michigan dairy farms. It was observed that the lowest colostrum yield was produced during winter (4.5 quarts) by cows milked within 6 hours after calving when compared to the other seasons (5.7, 6.2, 5.7 quarts of colostrum during spring, summer, and fall, respectively).

While there’s no known way to prevent this season depression in colostrum yield, there are tactics farmers can take to help combat it. Banking additional high-quality colostrum during the spring and summer months can help farmers get through periods of lower colostrum production, along with the use of colostrum replacement packets when necessary.

For more on calf management, read:

Consider a Second Feeding of Colostrum to Dairy Calves

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:24:24 GMT

Is your farm struggling to meet the industry goal of 90 percent of calves with successful passive transfer? If you have enough first milking colostrum to allocate six quarts (1.5 gallons) to heifer calves, then you should consider a second colostrum feeding to your calves.

Newborn calves should be fed a minimum of 10 percent of their body weight of high-quality colostrum in the first 24 hours following birth. High quality colostrum means free from bacterial contamination and contains at least 50g/L immunoglobulins (IgG). For Holstein heifer calves (average 85-90 lbs. at birth), 10 percent of body weight equates to approximately four quarts (one gallon or 3.8 liters) of colostrum. The quicker calves are fed colostrum, and the more IgG they are fed, the better the transfer of immunity to the calf. Michigan State University Extension recommends feeding four quarts of high quality, clean colostrum within six hours of birth to achieve successful passive transfer. However, there are still a subset of calves that will not have successful passive transfer even if all these goals are met. For example, if the calf is stressed before birth, colostrum feeding is delayed or if quality or cleanliness are compromised, then that calf is at risk for failure of passive transfer even with four quarts of colostrum.

Because gut closure (the process of the gut wall closing down the ability to directly absorb IgG) begins almost immediately at birth and is complete by 24 hours, we typically focus on getting the first feeding into the calf as quick as possible. However, colostrum contains much more than just IgG. Colostrum is very high in fat and protein, and contains hormones that researchers now believe are very important to the calf. A second feeding of colostrum will provide the calf additional antibodies, but also the nutrition it needs. Michigan State University Extension recommends feeding a second meal of colostrum six to 12 hours after the first feeding, at a volume of two to three quarts. While the second feeding must be free of bacterial contamination, it is worth feeding even if there are less than 50 g/L IgG’s (under 22 on the BRIX scale). It is noteworthy that most calves will not be hungry six to 12 hours after a four-quart first colostrum feeding, so using an esophageal tube feeder will probably be warranted.

According to UDSA’s survey “Dairy Cattle Management Practices in the United States, 2014,” 74 percent of small (30-99 cows) and 58 percent of medium operations (100-499 cows) and 52 percent of large (500 + cows) operations fed two quarts or less of colostrum at first feeding. However, the majority of operations across herd sizes fed an additional two quarts or more resulting in almost 90 percent of operations (88 percent) feeding four quarts or more of colostrum during the first 24 hours of life. Our research at MSU, and research done at other universities, indicates that two quarts at first feeding is not enough. The farms with the best passive transfer results from 50 Michigan dairy farms in 2016 all fed a second feeding and a total colostrum of 5.5 – 6 quarts the first 24 hours. Indicating that most farm operations see the benefit of feeding a second feeding of colostrum.

While research has been limited in the area of second colostrum feeding, if there is enough colostrum on your farm to provide heifers an additional two to three quarts of first milking colostrum, calves could benefit from improved health and growth.

Five Colostrum Storage Tips

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 19:51:33 GMT

Maintaining colostrum quality should be a huge priority on the dairy. The quantity of colostrum a calf receives does not matter if the colostrum is junk. Here are five tips to ensure you’re storing and handling colostrum properly.

1. Don’t pool raw colostrum.

Even if the colostrum is going straight into storage, it should never be pooled, according to Kimberley Morrill, PhD regional dairy specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Pooling, in this context, means mixing the colostrum from multiple cows together.

2. Feed or refrigerate colostrum within one hour of collection.

Colostrum can be stored in the fridge or the freezer. According to research from the National Animal Health Monitoring System of the dairy producers who store colostrum, 21% store it in the fridge and 73% of producers store colostrum in the freezer.

3. If storing in the fridge, only keep colostrum for one week.

After that, Bethany Lovaas, DVM University of Minnesota, says quality declines. “If you refrigerate colostrum, be sure that the refrigerator is cold (33 - 35 °F) to reduce the onset of bacterial growth,” she says.

4. Keep frozen colostrum for six months or less.

While not everyone agrees on how long frozen colostrum can be stored without damage to the antibodies, Faith Cullens of Michigan State University Extension says most researchers agree the six month mark is safe.

5. Thaw frozen colostrum with warm water or a microwave.

“The main concern regarding thawing frozen colostrum is to thaw the ice without degrading the immune proteins,” says Lovaas. She adds that colostrum is best thawed with warm (not hot) water. Add more water to the bath as the frozen colostrum cools down the water. Alternatively, Lovaas says colostrum can be thawed in a microwave oven with little damage to the Ig. “It is important to microwave the colostrum for short periods on low power,” she says.

For more on calf nutrition, read:

Colostrum May Have Yet Another Virtue: Scours Treatment

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:34:02 GMT

Effectively treating calves for scours could be as easy as feeding them something that virtually every dairy farm has on hand: colostrum.

A recent research paper authored by a team of world-renown calf researchers stated there is evidence that supports the use of colostrum as an early treatment of scours in young calves. The idea is not much of a stretch, considering colostrum has been used for supplemental nutrition and treatment for diarrhea in humans for centuries.

Scours remains a considerable challenge when raising preweaned dairy calves, causing 56% of illness and 32% of deaths, with the highest incidence in the second week of life. Prior research has shown that a single case of scours costs upward of $50 per calf, and that about 5% of the affected calves do not survive.

In animals that do recover from scours, the incidence still follows them for the rest of their lives. Research studies have shown that a replacement heifer that had scours will have about 50 g/day less average daily gain; 10% lower milk production in the first lactation; and a three-fold-higher likelihood of calving after 30 months of age.

Another troubling statistic: among calves in the U.S. that suffer from scours, about 75% receive antibiotic treatment. In many cases, the causative agent is a virus or protozoa that will not respond to antibiotics. Researchers worry that animals receiving antibiotics early in life will suffer lasting alterations to their gut microbiota. Plus, there are societal concerns about the overuse of antibiotics in food animals contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Colostrum could be Mother Nature’s answer to the confounding impact of scours. Researchers already know that feeding adequate quantities of high-quality colostrum immediately after birth protects calves against scours. They also have found that, even after gut closure, feeding partial quantities of colostrum (transition milk) reduces scours incidence.

Adding dried colostrum to milk replacer also has shown to reduce the need for antibiotic treatment by over half, thanks to reduced incidence of scours, respiratory disease, and navel ill.

What they do not yet know definitively is whether colostrum could serve as an effective treatment for scours once the disease occurs. But they have strong reasons to believe it could.

Colostrum is packed with vitamins A, D, E, and B, plus high levels of essential minerals. Compared to standard cow’s milk, it has more than 100 times more disease-protecting immunoglobulins. Colostral fat is high in energy and contains essential lipids that could help calves fight disease.

What’s more, oligosaccharides in colostrum may help calm intestinal inflammation and boost the development of “good” bacteria in the digestive system. And, bovine colostrum contains hundreds of bioactive compounds , including lactoferrin, which has been shown to prevent sepsis in human infants and calves.

The next step to explore the exciting potential of colostrum would be research on the direct impact of colostrum treatment on clinical scours, and – if it is effective – how treatment protocols should be structured.

Using colostrum to treat scours would be a simple, non-antibiotic, highly affordable option. It may well be that a serious calf health and performance issue could be addressed with an exciting, practical resource that has been available to us all along.

For more on calf health, read:

“Hybrid” Approach Helps Maximize Colostrum Quality

Mon, 09 May 2022 16:10:55 GMT

When it comes to deciding whether to use readily available maternal colostrum or a commercially available colostrum replacer to help launch early life calf immunity, it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. According to two presenters at the 2022 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Conference, you can – and probably should – use both.

Maternal colostrum is the ideal way for calves to achieve passive transfer of immunity in newborn calves, but it may fall short in a variety of ways, according to Adam Geiger, Business Development Manager with Zinpro Performance Colostrum.

Geiger and Dave Cook, Technical Service Manager for Milk Products, shared that boosting maternal colostrum with commercial colostrum replacer could give calves the best of both worlds when it comes to maximizing passive transfer of immunity.

They said this approach will aid producers in achieving high levels of circulating IgG in newborn calves. This is especially critical given recent recommendations from the USDA and industry experts that producers should strive for higher levels of circulating IgG compared to the standards of years past.

“The decision to feed high-quality, clean maternal colostrum is perhaps the most important decision you can make for the health and survivability of every calf,” declared Geiger. He added that colostrum-supported calf health and performance -- which always has been a high priority for dairy replacement heifers -- has taken on equal significance for calves headed to feedyards, many of which are now beef-on-dairy crossbreds.

Citing data that showed significant declines in both health and gain efficiency of feeder calves that lacked adequate passive transfer of immunity, Geiger and Cook emphasized the importance of establishing colostral immunity in every newborn calf.

“Many feeder calves are transported early in life to be raised at a grower facility,” noted Cook. “The boost in vitality and disease protection, shown to be provided by higher levels of passive immunity, is of paramount importance.”

Cook advised testing individual batches of colostrum with a digital Brix scale to assess quality. Brix readings of > 24 would indicate excellent-quality colostrum containing well over 50 g/L of IgG, which should be fed at a dose of 3-4 liters, for a total of 150-200 g/L IgG.

But if the Brix reading falls in the range of 18-24, that colostrum can be fortified by adding 50 grams of IgG via a high-quality, powdered colostrum replacer and raise the quality of good or marginal colostrum to excellent. For a typical, 500-gram pouch of colostrum replacer containing 150 grams IgG, that would be a third of the bag, or 166 grams of powder.

They recommended a simple enrichment process of whisking the powder directly into warm (100-105°F) colostrum without added water. The powder can be added to fresh colostrum or as it leaves the pasteurizer.

If colostrum is being frozen for later use, the powder can be mixed in before freezing, so the dose is ready to go upon thawing. The colostrum powder should easily dilute into solution and have an IgG content a least 30% to be considered an effective option for supplementing maternal colostrum.

The duo cited multiple benefits to taking this “hybrid” approach to colostrum feeding, including:

Greater consistency of delivery of desirable IgG levels to every calf.
Maternal antibodies from dry-cow vaccinations and organisms native to the herd are retained and delivered to each calf.
Reduced cost compared to feeding strictly colostrum replacer. The cost of boosting maternal colostrum will be 1/3 the cost of complete maternal colostrum replacement. “Blanket” boosting every batch of maternal colostrum without testing produces an approximate 3:1 return on investment (ROI), while the “test and supplement when needed” approach yields a 15:1 ROI.

The added layer of IgG protection should not be viewed as an excuse to let up on colostrum protocols, however. “You first need a good colostrum program to have a good colostrum supplementation program,” advised Cook.

With excellent dry-cow vaccination and colostrum protocols in place, “supplementing maternal colostrum with high-quality colostrum replacer is a practical tool we have at our disposal to deliver IgG and push up immunity levels in calves,” declared Geiger.

Foolproof Colostrum Protocols Makes all the Difference

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 13:17:01 GMT

You don’t get a “re-do” when it comes to most aspects of dairying, according to Greta Halahan, herd manager at Singing Brook Farms, Imler, Pa.

That’s why Halahan believes so strongly in proactive animal care for her family’s 300-cow registered Holstein herd. And when it comes to calves, that all starts with colostrum.

“We made some major changes two years ago in our calf program,” Halahan shared on a recent “Cow-side Conversations” podcast episode from Pennsylvania’s Center for Dairy Excellence. “We worked very, very hard at improving our colostrum management.”

Through much trial and error, she and the farm’s dedicated calf manager, Virginia Deffibaugh, eventually arrived at the protocol that is in place today:

Fresh cows are milked as quickly as possible after calving.
Milkers immediately store harvested colostrum in a refrigerator.
Within hours, Deffibaugh tests each batch of colostrum with a Brix refractometer, and grades it as “bull” (21-23) or “heifer” (24+) colostrum.
Colostrum is frozen in 4-quart doses using Perfect Udder bags.
When a calf is born, a staff member on duty thaws a bag of colostrum for the appropriate calf gender.
After about 45 minutes of thawing, the colostrum is fed to the newborn using a tube feeder directly from the bag.

“By the time the cow has the calf licked off, the calf can be fed and then the cow can go in to be milked,” shared Diffebaugh.

While the process sounds simple, Halahan said it took a lot of thought and deliberation to achieve.

“A challenge that’s common for herds our size is that we don’t have someone who’s in charge of the maternity pen fulltime,” she shared. “When we were going through our colostrum protocols, it became clear that in order for our desired delivery to happen the same way every single time, there needed to be a process that was timely, simple, and no one ever has to make a decision.”

With the current system, the only decision that has to be made is, “do I need a bag for a bull or a heifer.”

To encourage staff on duty to follow the protocol, workers are provided a financial incentive based on serum IgG levels when calves are a few days old. Deffibaugh draws blood at 2-3 days of age, and evaluates serum IgG on-farm using a Brix refractometer and grading scale. “The vast majority of them test in the ‘excellent’ range because they’re getting the colostrum,” she said.

Navel dipping is another “must” at Singing Brook Farms. Their navel-care protocol prescribes that every calf’s navel is dipped four times between birth and when it is settled into its pen in their calf barn.

A big-picture thinker, Halahan declared that intensive preweaned calf management may seem expensive, but it’s actually the most affordable time to raise dairy animals right. “That surprises a lot of people because on paper, up until weaning looks like the most expensive time to raise a replacement heifer,” she said. “But it’s not, because if you make a mistake during that time, no matter how much money you pour into her later, you will never fix it.”

As for advice to fellow producers, Halahan stated, “You have to perfect your colostrum. Spend as much time as you need in perfecting a system where you can deliver a good quantity of high-quality colostrum in a very timely manner, very simply.

“If you don’t get colostrum and navels managed correctly at birth, it doesn’t really matter what else you do.”

Colostrum Helps Calves Fuel their Furnaces

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:10:11 GMT

One of the many benefits of colostrum is that, when fed shortly after birth, it provides a source of internal warmth for the newborn calf.

But a team of Brazilian researchers recently conducted a study on the longer-term impact of colostrum on calves’ ability to tolerate cold and regulate their body temperatures.

The first-of-its kind trial was conducted at the Experimental Calf Facility of the “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The research team studied the impact of various levels of colostrum feeding on thermoregulatory response, along with a host of other health and performance measures.

In total, 30 newborn Holstein calves were fed high-quality colostrum at 2 and 8 hours after birth. Three feeding rates were evaluated – 10% (low), 15% (medium), and 20% (high) of bodyweight. At 24 hours post-birth, each calf was placed in a cold chamber at 50°F for 150 minutes, representing a cold challenge.

Skin and rectal temperature; heart and respiratory rate; and shivering were measured every 15 minutes. Blood samples were taken every 30 minutes. After the cold challenge, calves were housed in an environment at approximately 80°F with free access to water and starter grain, and fed 6 L of milk replacer per day.

Feed intake, fecal score, and rectal temperatures were taken daily, until weaning at 56 days of age. Blood samples, body weight and body frame measurements were taken weekly.

Highlights of the results included:

Fecal score at 24 hours of life were significantly lower for the calves in the low colostrum group. No other significant differences in fecal scores were observed among the three groups over the course of the entire preweaning period.
Heart girth was significantly greater at the end of the preweaning period for calves in the medium and high colostrum groups compared to the low group.
Colostrum feeding volume resulted in lower starter grain intake for calves in the low group at week 4, and significantly higher intake for calves in the medium group at week 5.
Blood concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were higher in the preweaning period for calves in the medium and high groups.
During the cold challenge, prescapular temperature and total serum protein were greater for the middle and high colostrum groups.
Calves fed a higher volume of colostrum (20% of birth weight) presented increased leukocyte count suggesting improved immune responses during the preweaning phase.

Ultimately, colostrum feeding rate did not influence calf performance in the preweaning phase. However, the researchers concluded that feeding more colostrum had a positive effect on newborn calves’ thermoregulatory responses during the cold challenge. Calves fed the highest volume of colostrum also showed improved immune responses during the preweaning phase.

The researchers attribute these results to the beneficial ingredients in natural colostrum. They said colostrum supplies lactose, amino acids, and triglycerides, which collectively provide an excellent energy source for internal heat production.

Bull Calves Deserve Colostrum, Too

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:39:11 GMT

In the busy-ness of daily dairy life, it may seem like a waste of time and resources to bother feeding colostrum to bull calves that will leave the farm in days, if not hours. Their value may be low; labor is expensive and in short supply; and there is always a long list of other things to do that seem to be more rewarding.

But according to Sonia Arnold, Manager of Research, Nutrition and Quality Control for Marcho Farms, Inc., Souderton, Pa., “the importance of colostrum cannot be overstated.”

She noted that in addition to vital immunoglobulins that protect calves from disease until their own immune systems are up and running, colostrum delivers an extensive list of other benefits. It’s rich in protein and fat, plus additional immune factors. It provides warmth and hydration to the newborn calf, and it jump-starts the digestive process.

Indeed, colostrum feeding also is an issue of animal welfare. In a report from Michigan State University, Frank Wardynski, Dairy Extension Educator, said calves that do not receive adequate transfer of immunity via colostrum will suffer significantly higher rates of morbidity and mortality.

“Newborn calves cannot efficiently digest milk or milk replacer in their first hours of life,” noted Arnold. “They need colostrum to stimulate gut closure and make the transition to digesting milk. Depriving them of colostrum is essentially putting them on a starvation diet for a few days. They’re behind from the start, both nutritionally and immunologically.”

Arnold studied colostrum as her research project while pursuing her PhD in ruminant nutrition at Penn State University. In her position at Marcho Farms, she is involved in setting protocols to care for the bull calves the veal company purchases daily, mostly from sale barns and buying stations. “It’s sort of ironic that after studying and researching all the benefits of colostrum, I work routinely with a population of calves that is largely colostrum-deprived.”

She said her team approaches calf receiving with a host of defensive strategies, including hydration, energy solutions and electrolyte therapy. “We don’t lose many, but it would be far more beneficial for the calves, and for our business, if they all received colostrum.”

Penn State University Extension Beef Specialist, Tara Felix, said passive immunity from the dam, which only can come from colostrum, protects calves for about the first 20 days of life. “After about 3 weeks, acquired immunity kicks in, sharply decreasing the likelihood of scours and death loss” she said. “But until then, calves need the immunity from clean, high-quality colostrum.” She discusses many aspects of optimal colostrum delivery in this video .

“Dairy producers can aid in producing vigorous calves that can be profitable for feeders by ensuring calves receive adequate quantities of high-quality colostrum,” noted Wardynski. “During the first few hours of life, only air is more important to calves than colostrum.”

Feeding Colostrum Through Transition Phase Improves Calf Growth, Health

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Ensuring that every calf receives colostrum, ideally within the first 4 hours after birth, has become a well-embraced standard in the dairy industry. Some dairies also routinely deliver a second dose a few hours after the first.

But is that first-day feeding enough? Mounting evidence suggests myriad benefits can be realized by following Mother Nature’s design and feeding colostrum or transition milk for several days before switching calves solely to milk or milk replacer.

Recent studies on the practice include:

Extended colostrum -- A collaborative study between Iranian and German researchers that recently was published in the Journal of Dairy Science split 144 heifer calves into three groups after their initial colostrum feedings.

For the first two weeks of life, Group 1 received 5 kg (11 pounds or about 5 quarts) per day of pasteurized whole milk. The second group received an equivalent volume of milk, but 350 grams of the daily liquid ration was made up of pasteurized colostrum. The third group received 700 daily grams of colostrum as a part of the total 5 kg ration.

The researchers found that the group receiving the most colostrum (700 g) had significantly higher weaning 61-day weight, final bodyweight (at 81 days), heart girth change, feed efficiency, and average daily gain (ADG). The group fed only milk had a greater chance of running a fever than either of the colostrum groups; scored lower in general appearance than the other two groups; showed a greater incidence of diarrhea compared to the high-colostrum group; and had a higher incidence of pneumonia than either colostrum group.

Transition milk – Michigan State University (MSU) researchers published another recent study in the Journal of Dairy Science in which they evaluated the merits of feeding transition milk, which was defined as the second through fourth milkings after calving.

For nine feedings after initial colostrum feeding, 105 calves were assigned to one of three groups (35 calves each): (a) milk replacer; (b) transition milk; or (c) a 50:50 blend of milk replacer and commercial colostrum replacer. All feedings of were delivered three times a day for three days.

They found that calves that received either transition milk or the 50:50 blend weighed about 6 pounds more at weaning at 56 days, and showed improvements in observational health scores and blood health markers compared to calves that were fed milk replacer only.

MSU researcher Dr. Miriam Weber Nielsen, who led the study team, discussed some more in-depth, follow-up research in an MSU Dairy Extension bulletin . “We found that transition milk stimulates development of the digestive tract by increasing small intestine surface area and potential nutrient absorption,” she explained. “Calves not receiving transition milk may be missing out on the opportunity for increased gut development and improved health.”

Nielsen said the improved growth and digestive-tract development could set animals up for better lifelong health and productivity. She noted the large body of documented evidence that improving early life growth and health correlates to increased first-lactation and lifetime milk production.

She acknowledged that collecting and feeding transition milk can be a logistical challenge on many dairies. Conversely, mimicking transition milk by supplementing with commercial colostrum replacer is highly desirable from a management and efficiency standpoint, but the cost of doing so might be difficult to justify.

Still, Nielsen was optimistic that dairies will find innovative ways to achieve the feeding practice as the benefits to heifer development are confirmed. “On farms where feeding transition milk or supplementing with colostrum replacer is feasible, improved health and faster growth of calves may be achieved,” she stated.