Colostrum
Nature fails to give calves sufficient colostrum – NZ Vet Journal 47, 1999 ‘about one half of NZ dairy calves may not receive colostrum from their dams even when they are together for up to 24 hours. Most calves (79%) that are going to suck of their own accord will do so within 6 hours of birth. Calves that had not received colostrum were not easy to distinguish on the basis of physical or behavioural features.’
Colostrum does not provide protection from coccidiosis, so use an anti-coccidial such as Bovatec in milk or milk replacer and your calf feed.
In its early life a calf can digest only milk. It relies on milk delivering adequate nutrition until its rumen is developed and dry feeds can be utilised. When a calf suckles the suckling action causes the “Oesophageal Groove” to close. This results in the milk directly entering the fourth stomach, the abomasum. Here rennet and acids released cause the milk to form a solid clot. Over the next 10-12 hours enzymes will disintegrate the clot slowly passing it into the small intestine for final absorption.
Colostrum intake is critical to a heifer rearer’s success – New Zealand research has shown that a calf is 10 times more likely to die if it has received insufficient colostrum. Other NZ research has shown that calves fed adequate colostrum can grow 20% faster than others.
Dairy farmers should hand feed colostrum – Given the importance of colostrum in the heifers success and the fact that nature is often failing, ‘dairy calves should be removed from their dams after 6 hours and fed colostrum to guarantee that they receive sufficient immunoglobulins’ NZ Vet Journal 47, 1999. Labour constraints may limit the ability of some farmers to achieve good colostrum transfer, however consider this an investment in reducing losses, stress, poor growth rates and other animal health costs.
• Heifer, second and third day colostrum is inferior – feed to calves
older than 1 day.
• Colostrum can last up to 6 months if frozen – colostrum can be
thawed in the microwave or warm water. Do not heat >56°C.
• Mix colostrum with warm water ( 2:1, colostrum:water @ 37°C).
• You can test colostrum quality with a colostrometer.
• Clean colostrum vats and piping regularly.
• Mix colostrum twice daily.
• Re-seed colostrum every 3-4 weeks.
Feed adequate colostrum – Calves should be fed 10% -15% of their body weight in two feeds in the first 12 hours of life. Colostrum carries immunoglobulins (antibodies) from the cow to help the calf ward off infection. From birth the ability for colostrum immunoglobulins to cross from the intestine into the blood stream decreases. By 24 hours after birth, immunoglobulin absorption has ceased. Colostrum should continue to be fed until day 3-4 because colostrum will protect against disease by fighting infection inside the gut.
Sell guaranteed colostrum fed calves at a premium – When purchasing calves rearers should be willing to pay a premium for calves hand fed and guaranteed to have adequate Ig levels. Lab tests of calf Ig levels can be obtained at a relatively low cost.