If there’s one set of research that has prompted me to think differently about how we manage dry cows, it’s the work done by Dr. Geoffrey Dahl and team at the University of Florida on the effects of heat stress on dry cows.

Continuing with the theme of nutrition at calving, we’ll now shift focus to how it relates to colostrum production along with management for the calf. Born essentially without immunity, calves don’t yet have the necessary antibodies to shield them from disease, which is why they have to rely on their mother for the immunoglobulin-rich nourishment of colostrum through passive immunity.

Colostrum management is a topic that comes around each calving season, and cattle producers should understand the importance of getting proper colostrum intake.