Cows with very little colostrum

[alan6430]

We are pretty good at getting colostrum in calves but recently the cows that calve don’t give much colostrum. We bring them in for milking as soon as possible after calving (usually at the next milking) and they might only give a litre of milk for me to stomach tube in to the calf which is obviously not enough, second milking usually better but first milking terrible

cows are fed bale silage and dry cow rolls same as always

anyone got any ideas on how to improve this or seen it before

thanks

 

[Barmyfarmer]

You sure the calf hasn't already sucked?

 

[alan6430]

You sure the calf hasn't already sucked?

If only it was that easy!!!

 

[Manney]

Have the cows bagged up with milk as normal? Are they just not letting it go? Shot of oxytoncin maybe?

 

[Barmyfarmer]

If only it was that easy!!!

Just when you said you stomach tube them why? Will they not suck?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I would guess your silage is lower protein than usual. You might just need to give them a handful of something else.

 

[Jdunn55]

I can't help with the lack of colostrum but I will say that I've gotten along with sccl colostrum replacer really well, it's expensive but anything that I've given it to is alive now and doing well

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Energy and bypass protein is what they need.
Test the bales and work out how much and of what they are getting.
Possibly start supplementing sooner if needs be.

Cow condition is a factor, make sure they are correct when drying off and they don't lose condition prior to calving.

On the positive side, lower volume of colostrum production tends to be of higher quality.
1L is significantly low mind.

 

[Arabull]

This is fairly common in North America at this time of year. Particularly in Jersey herds. there is some thoughts that is a daylight/seasonal thing. But as @buffalo_soldier said energy and bypass protein are implicated too. Anecdotally, seems to happen more in high straw dry cow diets. Some have adjusted energy up in autumn for this.

 

[Princess Pooper]

How long a dry period are they having? If short, that will affect colostrum volumes.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

On the plus side, the calciject shortage issue is unlikely to be an issue if cows are only giving a litre at first milking.

 

[puppet]

I would hope hand-milking would get a litre out of 2 quarters of a suckler cow far less a dairy one. Seems strange as they would have to be starving to only give a litre