Colostrum

[Dusty Britches]

We got into a discussion about colostum in newborn calves this weekend.

Some were saying the calf must have it within 24 hours, some with 12 hours, some within 2 hours.

Then the discussion was, how can you tell if a calf has nursed if you find the cow and calf long enough after birth that the calf is dry, but definately less than 24 hours.

It was an interesting conversation and included stuff I never thought about.

So, what say you about colostrum, timing and determination if the calf got it? Obviously, the implications of the calf not getting any colostrum within 12 hours is detrimental.

 

[Alice]

I figure the sooner the better, but I'd say definitely w/in 24 hours.

I've raised calves that I know didn't have colostrum at all. It's a real challenge...so much so that I'd have been happy if they'd had it in the 25th hour. Some I've even bought the dried colostrum for...just in case it MIGHT help...but I don't think it did. I really believe if they don't have it w/in 24 hours, it's a rough, uphill climb...and not always a successful one.

Alice

 

[randiliana]

I think that in the first 10-12 hours is the best, most calves will have it within the first 4 hours. After about 12 hours though they don't get as much antibodies, and by 24 hours their gut is pretty much closed up. Although, if I was uncertain of whether the calf had colostrum by that point I wouldn't hesitate to give him some, it certainly won't hurt him!!

The best way I have found (short of seeing him suck) to tell if a calf has sucked is to stick your finger in its mouth it should feel almost hot, if it feels cool he needs to get some colostrum into him as soon as possible. This works for us, but we mainly calve in the early spring when it is cooler, that may not work so well in the middle of summer. Also, the calf will usually just suck one teat the first time and on most cows you can see the difference in the size of the teats.

 

[msscamp]

Some were saying the calf must have it within 24 hours, some with 12 hours, some within 2 hours.

The earlier the better because the ability to absorb the passive antibodies decreases with each hour that passes following delivery, until the calf becomes unable to absorb the antibodies after 24 hours. I've read articles disputing this, but so far I've seen nothing that states it as fact, or proves it. If we suspect that a calf has not nursed within the first hour or two following birth, the calf is 'jump-started' with a small (16 oz) bottle of either packaged colostrum or whole milk.

Then the discussion was, how can you tell if a calf has nursed if you find the cow and calf long enough after birth that the calf is dry, but definately less than 24 hours.

If you carefully look at a cow/heifer that is springing, but does not have a calf, you will see that the hairs on the upper part of her bag are silky, straight and lay closely on her udder. You will also notice that her tits are usually a dry, dull color, and are generally fairly uniform. On a cow that has recently given birth and has been nursed, however, the hairs on her udder will usually be curly and have a damp appearance, her tits will have a different, 'shiny' look to them, and the tits that have been nursed will usually not be uniform in size or turgidness when compared to the other tits.