Colostrum

[UG]

In the past we have occasionally had pregnant cows allow other cow's calves to nurse them prior to their own calves being born. My concern is if there will be enough colostrum available for the soon to be born calf from the cow that allows others to nurse.

Though I know that for a calf to get the full benefit of colostrum it needs to nurse within a couple hours following birth, and there is basically no benefit 24 hours following birth, how long is colostrum being produced by the cow? For example, if a cow allows another cow's calf to nurse her four hours prior to birth, will she produce more colostrum or primarily just milk prior to her own calf being born and nursing?

Thanks

 

[dun]

It takes more then a day or a couple of hours to generate high quality colostrum. If you can't prevent calves from nursing cows before calving, either have a source of good clena high quality colostum frozen so that you can administer it as soon as the calf is born, or keep some of the dfried product on hand for emergencys.

dun