The colostrum protocol

“Colostrum, of extreme importance”

A calf is born with no active immune system. Colostrum delivers essential antibodies from cow to calf. That makes it very important that the calf be provided as quickly as possible with the first colostrum from the mother, which is rich in immunoglobulins (IgGs) and a whole raft of other important nutrients.
IgGs are absorbed via the intestinal wall, and help the calf build up resistance to a whole array of pathogens that the calf will encounter.

Colostrum management

“Plenty, quickly, often and fresh”

For an optimal start in life, make sure that your calves receives at least three to four litres of good-quality colostrum within one hour following birth (rule of thumb for the quantity: ten percent of the calf’s birth weight). A further two litres within eight hours and two more within 24 hours. In other words a total of between seven and eight litres in the first 24 hours, in which only colostrum is supplied from the first milking.

In this way, your calves will receive sufficient nutrients to build up sound resistance immediately following birth. Rapid supply of colostrum is literally of life-saving importance: the take-up of antibodies by a calf via the colostrum works best immediately following birth. Within twelve hours, the take-up of antibodies is halved, and after 24 hours there is no further take-up of antibodies from the colostrum, into the blood.

Density of colostrum

Good-quality colostrum contains at least 50 gram IgG per litre. The first colostrum contains the highest IgG concentration; in the second colostrum, this concentration has already halved. Not every cow produces high-quality colostrum. Using a so-called colostrum meter it is possible to read off the quality of the colostrum at a single glance. The meter determines the density of the colostrum (total dry matter content in terms of fat, protein and lactose). High-density colostrum is rich in antibodies. You can also use a so-called BRIX refractor meter that measures the refractive index. That index is again a measurement for the IgG content of the colostrum. Good-quality colostrum can be frozen and therefore remains available for other calves. Do not defrost colostrum in a microwave, but simply warm it up gradually (‘au-bain-marie’).

 Download our colostrum protocol