At Blaiket Mains Farm, near Crocketford in Dumfries and Galloway, consistency is the foundation of exceptional calf performance. Rodger and Lindsay Callander manage an impressive 900-cow Holstein herd, comprising 600 spring block-calving cows and 300 autumn block-calving cows. Their objective is clear: to rear healthy, productive replacements that calve for the first time at 24 […]

Evidence-based practical guidance for dairy calf health, immunity, and performance  Inside this guide: ✔ Colostrum protocols✔ Transition milk research✔ Feeding schedules✔ Hygiene SOPs✔ Passive transfer monitoring✔ Practical calf health recommendations 1. Why Colostrum Matters Calves are born with little or no immunity and depend entirely on colostrum for passive transfer of antibodies. Good colostrum management […]

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.

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.

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 [...]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.