SCCL

We tend to think of colostrum as the calf’s first dose of antibodies and it is, but it’s also so much more.

Research shared by Dr. Nilusha Malmuthuge at the International Scientific Meeting on Colostrum II showed that colostrum actively builds the calf’s gut from day one. Beyond antibodies, it carries bioactive compounds that feed beneficial bacteria, crowd out the bad ones, and help set up a healthy immune system early in life. That early foundation may support everything from gut health to respiratory health as the calf grows.

The bottom line for your calves? Getting quality colostrum into them quickly does more good than the antibody numbers alone can show.

Questions about colostrum’s additional benefits? Check out one of our latest articles 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q04mp9Jm0

Clean equipment = healthier calves.

Bottles, ni***es, and pails can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria if not properly cleaned and disinfected—putting calf health at risk and reducing the effectiveness of even the best colostrum from the very first feeding.
🧼 Wash thoroughly after every use
💧 Disinfect and allow to fully dry
🚫 Prevent buildup that can contaminate fresh feed

Small details matter. Clean feeding equipment helps protect calves from harmful bacteria and supports a stronger, healthier start.

If a newborn calf hasn’t nursed—don’t wait.

Step in quickly with a high-quality colostrum replacer. Unlike dairy calves, beef calves are often left to nurse unassisted, but delays can mean missed immunity when it matters most.

Delivering the antibodies they need for early protection and long-term health is essential. Early support makes all the difference. Test, enrich, and feed with confidence. Learn more at https://hubs.ly/Q04hBrRF0 🐮

Colostrum safety starts with smart handling. Maternal colostrum can be a powerful start, but it can also carry risks if not managed properly. Avoid feeding colostrum from cows with Johne’s, Mycoplasma, or other diseases.

⏱️ Act fast: feed immediately, refrigerate, or freeze within 1 hour if not used the same day—bacteria can double every 20 minutes.

If quality or safety is uncertain, don’t take the risk—discard it. Choose consistency with SCCL colostrum for a safe, reliable start.
🔗 https://hubs.ly/Q04hB2tp0

At the ISMC Dr. Sabine Mann (Cornell University) presented a comprehensive overview entitled: “Navigating colostrum production, harvest, and feeding management to achieve excellent transfer of passive immunity.”

One message stood out:
👉 The success of passive transfer is determined long before the calf is born.

We often focus on the calf’s first feeding, but colostrum quality and quantity are heavily influenced by dry cow management.

Some key factors discussed included:
✔️ Dry period length of 45–70 days
✔️ Close-up stocking density ≤80%
✔️ Heat abatement and cooling during both far-off and close-up dry periods
✔️ Adequate energy, metabolizable protein, and amino acid supply
✔️ Preventing feed sorting
✔️ Strategic dry cow vaccination programs
✔️ Considering parity distribution within the herd

The presentation also highlighted practical colostrum management principles:
🔹 Harvest colostrum within (maximum) 8 hours after calving
🔹 Ensure proper sanitation during collection
🔹 Completely milk out the cow
🔹 Rapidly cool colostrum to ≤4°C
🔹 Freeze high-quality colostrum in portions
🔹 Thaw at temperatures ≤60°C
🔹 Measure every batch using a refractometer
🔹 Maintain separate pools for high- and low-quality colostrum

For the calf:
🔸 Feed 8–10% of birth weight (approximately 3–4 L) within 2–4 hours after birth
🔸 Provide a second feeding 8–12 hours later
🔸 Use an esophageal feeder when necessary
🔸 Monitor calves carefully during the first 24–48 hours

One particularly interesting discussion involved factors affecting colostrum production, including environmental conditions before calving, dry cow vaccination, bacterial regrowth after heat treatment, and the importance of considering hemoconcentration when assessing transfer of passive immunity.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway was that achieving excellent passive transfer is not one decision made at birth—it is the result of dozens of management decisions made throughout the dry period, at harvest, during storage, and during feeding.

Thank you, Dr. Sabine Mann, for an outstanding presentation that reinforced how every step in the colostrum chain matters.

Not all colostrum is created equal—and in Part 2, we go even deeper into what truly sets it apart.

In Episode 6 of Beyond Colostrum: An SCCL Podcast, we continue the conversation with Ron Sargent and Chantelle Gosselin to uncover the next layer of colostrum quality—from advanced safeguards to the real-world impact on calf outcomes. We explore:
✔️ How quality standards translate into on-farm results
✔️ The hidden factors that influence consistency batch to batch
✔️ What exceptional colostrum means for long-term calf performance

If you’re ready to move beyond the basics and understand what exceptional really looks like, this episode connects the dots.
🎧 Tune in now: https://hubs.ly/Q04kBNCn0
▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://hubs.ly/Q04kCxrQ0

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series—make sure you’ve caught Episode 5 and subscribe to Beyond Colostrum: An SCCL Podcast so you never miss what’s next.