Calves should suckle the cow to appetite as soon as possible after birth. In situations where this is not feasible, research at Teagasc, Grange, has shown that feeding the calf 5% of its birth weight (eg ~2 litres of suckler cow colostrum for a 40kg calf), within one hour or so of birth, with subsequent suckling of the dam (or a second feed) six to eight hours later, ensures adequate passive immunity.
There may be times when the cow or heifer does not have sufficient colostrum. The best substitute for the mother’s colostrum is colostrum from another cow, preferably from the same herd. This is important for two reasons: first, the disease exposure for both dam and donor is likely be the same and the calf will be protected from disease organisms present on the farm; and, secondly, it avoids the possible introduction of disease from other farms.Johne’s is a prime example of a disease that could be introduced to the farm through using off-farm colostrum. In this respect, it is not advisable to feed dairy cow colostrum to a suckler calf. It is also important to remember that the quality (antibody concentration) of colostrum from dairy cows is much lower than suckler cows.
In some cases, when a cow or more often heifers will calve down with insufficient colostrum, it is advantageous to have frozen colostrum on farm. Colostrum should be taken from milky cows on the farm and frozen to ensure a supply exists on the farm. It can be placed in clean plastic containers and stored in a freezer at -18ºC to -25º C for up to a year without changing its qualitySlow thawing in a water bath at temperatures below 50ºC is recommended. Thawing in a microwave is not recommended as it may lead to heat spots and over-heating colostrum can destroy the antibodies. Although more time consuming, hot water baths are a safer way to maintain colostrum integrity when thawing.Bacteria can multiply very quickly if colostrum is kept at room temperature. Even in the fridge, bacteria can still grow, so use refrigerated colostrum preferably within one day, never keep it longer than a week.
Colostrum may be fed to calves using a nipple bottle or an oesophageal feeder (stomach tube).A stomach tube is particularly useful where the calf is unable or unwilling to suckle. However, training/experience is required in using this device.
Calves should suckle the cow to appetite as soon as possible after birth. In situations where this is not feasible, research at Teagasc, Grange, has shown that feeding the calf 5% of its birth weight (eg ~2 litres of suckler cow colostrum for a 40kg calf), within one hour or so of birth, with subsequent suckling of the dam (or a second feed) six to eight hours later, ensures adequate passive immunity. There may be times when the cow or heifer does not have sufficient colostrum. The best substitute for the mother’s colostrum is colostrum from another cow, preferably from the same herd. This is important for two reasons: first, the disease exposure for both dam and donor is likely be the same and the calf will be protected from disease organisms present on the farm; and, secondly, it avoids the possible introduction of disease from other farms.Johne’s is a prime example of a disease that could be introduced to the farm through using off-farm colostrum. In this respect, it is not advisable to feed dairy cow colostrum to a suckler calf. It is also important to remember that the quality (antibody concentration) of colostrum from dairy cows is much lower than suckler cows.
In some cases, when a cow or more often heifers will calve down with insufficient colostrum, it is advantageous to have frozen colostrum on farm. Colostrum should be taken from milky cows on the farm and frozen to ensure a supply exists on the farm. It can be placed in clean plastic containers and stored in a freezer at -18ºC to -25º C for up to a year without changing its qualitySlow thawing in a water bath at temperatures below 50ºC is recommended. Thawing in a microwave is not recommended as it may lead to heat spots and over-heating colostrum can destroy the antibodies. Although more time consuming, hot water baths are a safer way to maintain colostrum integrity when thawing.Bacteria can multiply very quickly if colostrum is kept at room temperature. Even in the fridge, bacteria can still grow, so use refrigerated colostrum preferably within one day, never keep it longer than a week.
Colostrum may be fed to calves using a nipple bottle or an oesophageal feeder (stomach tube).A stomach tube is particularly useful where the calf is unable or unwilling to suckle. However, training/experience is required in using this device.
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