Colostrum Facts for Calves
Almost no calves who are newly birthed survive without colostrum.
Colostrum is the first milk/antibodies that mother cows offer to their calves. Colostrum is extremely important for humans too.
Typically the intake of colostrum with calves from their mother cows is something you don’t have any part in or have to worry about. However, if you are to lose a cow during calving of her newborn then milk out as much colostrum/milk from her udder as possible and feed, through a bottle, to the calf immediately. Then freeze the rest for the same purpose. There is usually 10 times the amount of colostrum needed in the mother’s udder at birth.
The calf should consume at least 3 to 4 quarts of colostrum at birth and at least a gallon of colostrum within the first 24 hours of birth.
The calves gut is extremely susceptible to attack from pathogens without colostrum. Colostrum is full of the mother’s antibodies which protect the calf.
If needed, use this frozen colostrum for any other orphan calves AND orphans of other species as well.
Comments
Tag:animal health, animals, farming, nutrition, permaculture