Colostrum

[Davy]

Is there any benefit to feeding the calf the 2nd days milkings, the 3rd and 4th milking of its mother? Are any antibodies or other nutrients still present in that milk or are they reabsorbed by that stage.

 

[Spudley]

Yes, I believe so. Even after the gut closure, there will still be local protection from IgA in the milk for about the first week.

 

[yin ewe]

Is there any benefit to feeding the calf the 2nd days milkings, the 3rd and 4th milking of its mother? Are any antibodies or other nutrients still present in that milk or are they reabsorbed by that stage.

We feed the mothers milk up to 3/4 days, until the milk can go into the tank. Sometimes wonder if you'd be better putting them onto powder straight after the colostrum so less changes for the calf?

 

[Headless chicken]

We’ve nearly always just fed 1/2 feeds depending on when it comes in form the field of colostrum and then onto powder. We’ve had issues this year so moving to feeding fresh milknfor a bit longer

 

[Half Full]

On our vets advice we now give one feed of 4ltrs ASAP, then straight onto powder. Been doing this for three years now seems to work well.

 

[boumaticboy]

went through a phase of feeding once or twice colostrum then onto powder to minimise johnes risk.had awful probs with rotavirus scour.vet said not getting enough immunity feed colostrum longer.

 

[dairyrow]

We refractometer it one year. quality wasnt there after first feed. We've always put 4 litres as quick as possible. red tractor assurance will force you to maybe measure and feed as soon as possible

 

[pappuller]

Feed fresh calvers milk for 4 days, youngest calves always get priority and older calves get pooled milk

 

[Farmer_1994]

There has been studies and talk of producer here leaning towards up to five days of colostrum. Have yet to try it ourselves but we will in the future. We feed 4L of pasteurized colostrum now and we already see better results from that over powder or fresh colostrum.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

I think there is definitely a benefit to it. We feed brix tested colostrum for the first feeding then they get the colostrum herd milk from there on. No powder.

At home we fed the mothers colostrum to each calf for 5 days. Even if there is no more immunity being passed it is still a super food. Very nutrient dense. Also very labor intensive

 

[Princess Pooper]

I was always advised to feed about 4 days because even if no longer any immunoglobulin benefit, the high fat and protein will get a calf off to a flying start.

 

[multi power]

I've always fed colostrum from the first milking for first day then from cows calved 1-4 days for next 4 days

 

[jimmer]

Calf sucks colostrum, then fed milk from fresh cows untill its fit for the tank

 

[som farmer]

as a student, we saved all colostrum, churns, 45 gallon barrels, that's what fed the calves right through, would last for 6/7 weeks, not good to stir up 1st thing after a night out !!! Worked very well. We save colostrum, and acidify it, keeps about 10 days, after 3 days, meant to kill most nasties, even claimed to kill johnes, but no johnes milk is kept ! Calves do really well on it, and a hell of a lot cheaper than powder.
We have xbred herd, I would think pure hol, or high yielding herds, would have to top up, due to a poorer ' quality' colostrum.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Calf sucks colostrum, then fed milk from fresh cows untill its fit for the tank

Bit like my old job. Leave the calf on 3 days then onto nurse cows