Colostrum & Transition Milk Archives

Less Can Be More: Rethinking Colostrum Feeding for UK Calves

Colostrum remains the calf’s first line of defence. High immunoglobulin (IgG) levels are critical, but achieving and maintaining them depends on multiple factors, including dry cow nutrition, timing of collection, storage temperature, and hygiene.

Preventing bacteria contaminating colostrum and transition milk produced in robotic milking systems

Maintaining colostrum hygiene in robotic milking systems is vital for calf health and immune development. This article explores the risks of bacterial contamination, highlights research findings, and offers best practices for collecting and storing colostrum and transition milk in automated dairy operations.

How to reduce bacterial contamination of colostrum

The awareness and importance of testing and feeding good-quality colostrum has become increasingly popular over the last few years. However, the colostrum storage and handling process is sometimes overlooked [...]

Benefits of Feeding Transition Milk for Longer

In a recent survey by Bonanza Calf Nutrition of 153 farmers, it was found that over 57% of the farmers only feed transition milk up to day five of the calf’s life, which aligns with the first 5-6 milkings after colostrum.

Survey demonstrates calf rearers recognise value of transition milk

Growing numbers of farmers are understanding the value of transition milk to the health and future potential of their calves. A recent survey by Bonanza Calf Nutrition found that more than three quarters of the farmers who responded – 94 out of 123 participants – fed transition milk, the highly nutritious and immune-boosting milk produced […]

Factors affecting IgG absorption in the baby calf aside from colostrum

Excellent colostrum management is key when it comes to providing the baby calf with its first source of immunity. But what else can impact the immune status of baby calves? A study conducted by Jones et al. (2004) found the apparent efficiency of IgG absorption ranged from less than 10% to greater than 25% in […]

Updates on calf passive immune status and colostrum management

Targets for serum IgG concentrations in calves at 24 hours old have been increased in an attempt to combat the high morbidity and mortality levels that still persist in rearing systems. It had been thought that achieving 10g/litre IgG in calf blood serum at 24 hours of age was adequate while less than 10 g/litre […]

Careful collection of colostrum and transition milk is critical for calf health

Colostrum and transition milk (TM) should always be at the forefront of calf rearers' minds. We are very aware of the importance and value of first milking colostrum for transferring IgG into the calf’s blood.

So, what’s in transition milk that makes it so good?

Baby calves that are fed colostrum for their first two feeds and then abruptly switched to whole milk or a replacer miss out on a very significant nutritional stage linked to transition milk.