EXTENSION: A Calf’s Most Important Meal: Colostrum

Colostrum is the “first milk” produced after calving. It has a different composition than milk as it has an important role in being the first meal a calf receives. Colostrum is more nutrient dense than milk and contains antibodies essential for calf health.During pregnancy, certain molecules important to immune system defense called antibodies, are not passed from dam to calf. When calves are born, they have inactive immune systems and therefore, need protection against potential diseases until their own immune systems mature. Colostrum provides just that as it contains antibodies called immunoglobins (IgG’s). IgG’s have important roles in the immune system recognizing and destroying pathogens. Bovine colostrum contains three types of immunoglobins — A, G, and M. However, IgG is over 85% of the total IGG concentration in colostrum. However, the calf’s gut can only absorb IgG in the first 24 hours of life.

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