WHY IS COLOSTRUM SO IMPORTANT FOR NEWBORN CALVES?
Feeding high-quality colostrum immediately after the calf is born is the single best way to help ensure the long term health of the calf. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the cow after giving birth. Calves are born with almost no ability to fight disease on their own, and must consume their antibodies (also commonly known as IgG, immunoglobulins, or globulin protein) from the cow’s colostrum. The process of acquiring immunity from colostrum is called passive transfer of immunity. In the first day of life, the newborn calf has the ability to absorb antibodies directly into its bloodstream without digestion. Antibody absorption is most efficient immediately after birth, and steadily declines to virtually zero at 24 hours of age. For this reason, it is extremely important to feed colostrum as quickly as possible after the calf is born, and continue feeding only colostrum for the first day of life. When a calf does not receive enough antibodies from colostrum it is said to have fail
