Artifical colostrum

[daithi]

We have had quite a lot of quads and triplets this year and a few to many ewes with just one side therfore we have been tubing quite a few with Survivor artifical colostrum. I was looking on the side of the container and it doesn't seem that much different to Lamlac milk. So could you just use Lamlac and make it a bit stronger and be just as good? or is there something extra in it.
400g survivor is about €18 ,5kg Lamlac about €14
Just curious
TIA

 

[Longlowdog]

I wouldn't make milk any thicker. A lot of effort goes in to creating milk that will feed lambs and not bloat or constipate them.
Most colostrum substitutes claim have to have immunoglobins to boost the lambs immune system. I'd imagine someone would be hung if their company was found to be rebadging their milk powder at a massive mark up as colostrum. It could destroy a companies reputation overnight.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

One of the most important reasons for feeding colostrum (either from sheep or cows) is that it will contain a number of antibodies to many disease. There is no mention on the label of this product about those.
Clostridial diseases are still a major issue and vaccinated ewes will pass on a level of immunity to their offspring.

Better to see if you have a Dairy farmer who is calving and get some from him. It freezes fine.

 

[Whitepeak]

Not sure if still the case but the replacement colostrum manufacturers never stated the immunoglobulin content of their products in advertising/on the packet. This was because it would then need licensing as a veterinary product, and cost serious ££££! Whereas a colostrum supplement/milk powder doesn't need the same licencing, and is then much cheaper!

 

[Agrivator]

I suspect that the additional protein in the Colostrum replacement is additional Immunoglobulins - which are proteins.

 

[Henarar]

Waste of money

 

[Longlowdog]

I've got away with milking ewes for colostrum this year but in years past I've found myself at my wits end at 3am with nothing producing colostrum any more and been glad to mix a dose, squirt it down a lamb and get an hours rest after things haven't gone according to plan. There is often more value in something than what it costs.

 

[Henarar]

Frozen cows colostrum is more use

 

[David.]

How does cows colostrum confer immunity from sheep clostridium diseases to lambs?
There are usually enough opportunities during lambing to rob some colostrum off a few ewes to build up a stash, especially off singles with good bags, etc.
Cows, and artificial colostrums are just a bit better than nothing imo, but as LLdog says, sometimes nothing is what you have got.

 

[deere 6600]

Used cows colostrum successfully for years just need a friendly dairy farmer preferably with a tester thingy and. Deep freeze

 

[Henarar]

How does cows colostrum confer immunity from sheep clostridium diseases to lambs?
There are usually enough opportunities during lambing to rob some colostrum off a few ewes to build up a stash, especially off singles with good bags, etc.
Cows, and artificial colostrums are just a bit better than nothing imo, but as LLdog says, sometimes nothing is what you have got.

I didn't say it was as good as ewes colostrum I just said it was more use than the fake stuff and our vet said the same thing

 

[Pistonbroke]

None of the artificial colostrums seem to clear through their gut and shift the black sh!t. If that doesn't happen they're going to get watery mouth anyway, regardless what immunity they need.

 

[David.]

I would be interested to hear if cows colostrum offers any more than a warm emergency feed for lambs, what are the facts?

 

[Pistonbroke]

Artificial colostrums don't seem to clear the black sh!t like the real stuff,then you're into watery mouth problems