Colostrum

The remarkable difference hyperimmunized colostrum makes

mwustenberg@immucell.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

You may not be familiar with the term “hyperimmunized,” let alone use it in everyday conversation. Yet it is the most powerful tool to enrich colostrum and influence calf health and development.

Roundtable: Calf questions from around the U.S.

jennifer_wiley@cargill.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Lean into your consultants and fellow producers to troubleshoot and come up with solutions. Every operation is unique and will require unique solutions that work for your employees, facilities and budget.

Good colostrum handling maximizes the value of dry cow vaccines and management

halley.fobes@vaxxinova.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The early days of a calf’s life can be perilous. With limited immune function of their own, they are reliant on the protection provided by maternal colostrum. That protection goes beyond antibodies (immunoglobulins or IgG) and remains an area of active research.

Seven pillars of successful calf raising

tiago.tomazi@merck.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Just as solid structural pillars form a strong foundation for the barn, these seven pillars of calf raising are powerful steps to help build a solid foundation for the future milking herd.

A gut check for calf programs: A multipronged approach for gut health

marisol_orellana@diamondv.com — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A calf’s gut is a blank slate at birth, but bacterial microbes quickly establish themselves within the first weeks of life. During this narrow window, the calf’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rapidly colonized by bacteria from equipment, colostrum and bedding – both beneficial as well as harmful.

The vital role of colostrum in calf development: Epigenetic implications

gabriel@coloquick.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Recent research has shown the epigenetic influences of colostrum feeding practices on the long-term productivity and health of dairy cows. This article delves into the importance of timely colostrum feeding and its epigenetic impacts, providing insights for dairy farmers and dairy consultants.

Colostrum, transition milk and immune system development

jamesre60@gmail.com — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Although it may not be possible to replicate the beef cow-calf relationship, there are things that can be done on the modern dairy to achieve success by paying attention to key factors.

Colostrum: Indicator of physiological balance in pre-fresh cows and key stimulant in the calf’s lifelong genetic expression

jdrlms@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 07:37:28 -0400

With advanced scientific technologies, we have been able to more specifically identify many of the key nutritional and nonnutrient components of colostrum, as well as their modes of action in the neonatal calf.

Day-old calf nonnegotiables

cthrasher@genex.coop — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Through our experience of working with numerous dairies to troubleshoot early calf health challenges, we’ve identified several critical, nonnegotiable colostrum management practices.

Can beef teach us how to better raise dairy replacements: Calving environment and newborn management

jamesre60@gmail.com — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

What’s normal for beef cattle? The pastoral scene is common in many beef cattle systems in the eastern U.S. Calving occurs outdoors, where the air is fresh and the environment is clean. What is the message for dairy, and can we do better? What are the focus areas we should consider?

Are you maximizing colostrum’s potential for better calf health and herd productivity?

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Colostrum serves as more than just the first feeding; it is the cornerstone of the calf's health and development. Addressing the challenges in harvesting and feeding colostrum requires a multifaceted approach, combining quality control, nutritional strategies and management practices to ensure calves receive the best possible start in life.

[Podcast] Colostrum management, winter calf care and benefits of pair housing calves with Bethany Dado-Senn

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, Bethany Dado-Senn of Vita Plus joins host Matti McBride to discuss calf care. Learn from Dado-Senn as she discusses the importance of colostrum quality and management, general sanitation, calf management in the winter months, the benefits of pair housing calves and more.

Optimizing your colostrum bank

gabriel@coloquick.com — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this article, we will explore a real-world case that illustrates the hazards of improper colostrum handling and provides guidelines for optimizing your colostrum bank to ensure the highest-quality colostrum reaches your calves.

Colostrum: A powerhouse nutraceutical for older calves

mmc7081@psu.edu — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Supplementing calves with colostrum after the first day of life can reduce the duration of diarrhea and possibly improve survival rates during high disease pressures. This article details the benefits of colostrum for older calves and how it can be integrated into calf management plans.

Enhancing calf wellness: A comprehensive approach

kreed@diamondv.com — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In the ever-evolving landscape of calf rearing, maintaining a consistent approach is key to ensuring the health and productivity of your herd. Just as human babies thrive on routine, calves benefit from a structured feeding schedule and care regimen.

Can your calves pass these tests?

jonathan.townsend@merck.com — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In the realm of calf raising, the adage holds true: "You can't manage what you can't measure." From birth to weaning, a variety of tests and measurements can help you evaluate the success of your calf-raising protocols, provide insights into calf health and highlight areas for improvement.

The hidden enemy: How oxidative stress impacts dairy calves and what you can do

tana_dennis@cargill.com — Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

One relatively unexplored element for the development of calfhood diseases is oxidative stress. Simply, oxidative stress is a condition where there is an imbalance between the production of unstable free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize them with antioxidants.

Calf scours prevention begins before birth

kegan@genex.coop — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

“Do you have good luck when it comes to raising calves?” That’s a question you have likely been asked, but when it comes to preventing scours and ensuring calf health, it takes more than luck!

Counter the complexity of scours with a focused effort

bbrockmann@immucell.com — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

By definition, scours is complex: a complex clinical symptom associated with multifactorial diseases that prevent the intestine from absorbing fluids and nutrients. Don’t throw up your hands and assume there is only so much you can do.

G.I. tract health is key in pneumonia prevention

kimmo@novonesis.com — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:58:39 -0500

Raising calves in the winter brings many challenges, and feeding an effective probiotic is one tool that can help reduce the stress involved in calf raising.

Putting fun and efficiency into calf raising

bvincent@immucell.com — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Many producers turn to a custom calf raiser because they want to offload heifer-raising challenges. You might have other reasons for sending calves away, such as saving forage and labor for the milking herd or the lack of updated calf facilities.

Invest in the perfect calf

djdominguez@immucell.com — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Giving calves a good start can be expensive. However, not investing in your calf operation can cost you in the parlor. Too many dairies chase after pennies of efficiency on the cow side but trip over dollars of missed opportunities in their calf program.

Know why calves get sick and how to prevent it

julia_reyes@cargill.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Attaining robust immunity takes time. Feeding high-quality colostrum, combined with reducing exposure to common farm pathogens, will help optimize a newborn calf’s health, growth and productivity.

A guide to get the best ROI from calf vaccination

jonathan.townsend@merck.com — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Understanding the fundamentals of vaccination helps optimize the return on your vaccine investments and ensure calves are prepared for the challenges they’ll face.

The first 60 days sets the course for later lactation

matt_dodd@diamondv.com — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:32:51 -0400

That newborn calf looks pretty helpless nestled down in that clean, fresh straw. But don’t let looks deceive. She’s a powerhouse of genetics and opportunity just waiting to demonstrate her potential.

Is your refrigerator doing its job in keeping colostrum clean?

bdado-senn@vitaplus.com — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, dairy producers and industry experts have put more emphasis on providing dairy calves with high-quality, timely colostrum to maximize passive transfer of immunity.

Don’t lose your future genetics to calf scours

brian.miller5@merck.com — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:52:27 -0400

Due to improvements in reproductive efficiencies, dairies can now be more selective in raising future herd replacements. This elevates the importance of reducing preventable diseases such as scours or diarrhea in newborn calves.

'Raising the bar' with beef-on-dairy calves

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

“I think, done the right way and with proper management all the way through, these calves are better than the native beef,” said Dan Dorn.

Extended colostrum and transition milk feeding: Pros, cons and implementation

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:38:20 -0500

There is no making up for the first 24 hours of a calf’s life. Consider extended colostrum feedings for the first couple of weeks and feeding transition milk for the first few days to level up your calf program.

Setting calves up for a long-term, successful immune system

emontemagni@endovacanimalhealth.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 09:22:25 -0500

Managing dairy calves is truly an art form. The first few weeks of a calf’s life are imperative to how productive that calf will be as an adult, from increased milk during its first lactation to achieving its full genetic potential.