What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk produced after calving. It contains immunoglobulins (antibodies) to the diseases in the cow’s environment. Newborn calves have no immunoglobulins of their own; they rely upon receiving the colostral immunoglobulins from their mother for disease protection in the first weeks of life. 
Colostrum absorption by the newborn calf.
The gastrointestinal tract of the newborn calf allows absorption of the colostral immunoglobulins into the blood stream only for the first 12-24 hours of life. Following this initial period the gastrointestinal tract changes so that additional immunoglobulin cannot be absorbed directly into the blood stream.

Implications of colostrum absorption. 

If the newborn calf receives enough maternal colostrum and this colostrum contains high titers of immunoglobulins to the important diseases in the calf’s environment, the calf will be protected against disease in the early weeks of life. However, if the calf does not receive enough colostrum or the colostrum has inadequate titers of immunglobulins to the diseases in its environment, the calf is at high risk for disease. 

Failure of immunoglobulin transfer from mother to calf.

The lack of adequate colostral immunoglobulin in the newborn calf is referred to as “failure of passive transfer of maternal antibodies”. The main causes of failure of passive transfer of maternal antibodies are poor mothering, weak calves that fail to suckle, and/or poor quantity and quality of maternal colostrum; the latter is usually associated with first-calf heifers.

Products to treat failure of transfer of maternal antibodies.

Colostrum products are produced from natural colostrum, blood serum and as by-products of the cheese industry. Only products produced from natural colostrum contain the high quantities of immunoglobulins necessary for normal calf health.