In addition to Immunoglobulin G (IgG)* which is essential for immunity and survival, whole colostrum provides antimicrobial factors, a range of hormones, growth factors, nutrients, and immune cells to newborn animals.
Antimicrobial factors and immune cells from cows help protect the calf against disease and play an important role in supporting the immune system of the calf.¹
Hormones and growth factors, such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), are present in colostrum at levels much higher than found in the blood of the dairy cow, ewe or doe. These support gut maturation and nutrient absorption, as well as stimulating cell proliferation and growth, and regulating energy metabolism.
Nutrients, including proteins and trace elements, are essential for an optimal start for any mammal. Colostral fat provides a source of rapidly available energy and fuels the metabolism of brown fat to help the calf, lamb or kid generate heat and maintain their body temperature. A high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and a lower concentration of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate in colostral fat, are thought to play an important role in supporting the absorption of immunoglobulins² and counteract stress in early life.³
Oligosaccharides, or complex sugar molecules found in whole colostrum, may help establish gut microflora and enable the absorption of IgG.4
When choosing a colostrum replacer consider:
» IgG concentration – is the concentration high enough to ensure that the calf, lamb or kid can consume enough within 12 hours of birth to achieve passive transfer?*
» Fat source and concentration – high levels of colostral fat ensure an adequate energy supply while providing essential factors that fuel the metabolism of brown fat.
» The presence of natural growth factors is important for early development, but colostrum replacers which are reconstituted from immunoglobulins, milk protein powders and butter fat do not contain these.
» Adding a whole colostrum replacer to your rearing toolkit will support your animals’ health, growth and subsequent performance.
* Adequate intake of colostrum, specifically IgG, helps prevent infection in calves in the first four to six weeks of life. As a rule of thumb, within 12 hours after birth, 40 kg calves should receive a minimum of 100 g of IgG. Lambs and kids, at approximately 4 kg, require 10 g of IgG.
Visit your local PGG Wrightson store to purchase AgriVantage’s whole colostrum replacer, Launchpad18™.
Supplied by AgriVantage
1 Korhonen, H. (1977). Antimicrobial factors in bovine colostrum. Agricultural and Food Science, 49:5. Retrieved from https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/71956.
2 Hiltz, R.L., & Laarman, A.H. (2019). Effect of butyrate on passive transfer of immunity in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15555.
3 Wilms, J.N., et al. (2022). Fatty acid profile characterization in colostrum, transition milk and mature milk of primi- and multiparous cows during the first week of lactation. Journal of Dairy Science. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20880.
4 Lorenz, I. (2021). Calf health from birth to weaning – an update. Irish Veterinary Journal, 74:5. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-021-00185-3.