Calving Season Tips: Feeding Colostrum to Your Calves Provided by SCCL
The single, most important meal a calf will consume in its lifetime is the first feeding of colostrum. Knowing when and how to assist your calves with colostrum is the first step to achieving a successful calving season.
Under what circumstance do calves need to receive a colostrum supplement or replacement? There are many circumstances when producers should feed a colostrum product. These include very cold (or warm) weather, twin births, and calves born to first-calf heifers with poor mothering instinct and low quantity of colostrum; however, calves born with difficulty (also known as dystocia) are at the greatest risk for failure of passive transfer of immunity, since they are often slow to get up and suckle. Additionally, their ability to absorb antibodies may be compromised due to the delay of nursing and altered metabolic parameters. Whenever calves are born with intervention or
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assistance, the calf should always be given at least a supplemental dose of colostrum, if not a full replacement dose. Also, producers should consider supplementing any calf that has not suckled within 1-2 hours of birth to get them started.
the calf up and suckling – a good quality colostrum supplement or replacer is an excellent alternative to ensure the calf receives a timely first meal. If colostrum has been delayed past 2 hours, feed larger amounts to compensate for reduced absorption.
When should colostrum be fed?
How much colostrum do calves need?
With each minute that passes after birth, a calf’s ability to absorb antibodies is reduced. By 24 hours the gut is almost completely closed and can no longer absorb antibodies. Colostrum must be fed as soon as possible after birth, ideally within 1-2 hours. If bottle or tube feeding is necessary – when it is not possible to milk the cow immediately or get
When it comes to colostrum, research shows more is better. Most veterinarians now recommend calves receive at least 1 gallon or 4 liters of good quality colostrum, which should provide calves with 150-200g of IgG. New USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System recommendations suggest at least 200g IgG to achieve
