Colostrum & Transition Milk Archives

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.

Once-a-day feeding proves very successful for rearing healthy dairy replacement heifers in County Tyrone

Father and son team Kenny and Kyle McIlwaine run a crossbred dairy herd of Fleckvieh x Holsteins and Montbeliard x Holsteins on the outskirts of Newtownstewart, producing milk at an annual average yield of 9,000 litres/cow from twice- a-day milking system. Calf morbidity and mortality is at an all-time low. [...]

Transition milk and its role in baby beef calf performance

Providing baby beef calves with the same colostrum and transition milk feeding as replacement heifers can have a positive effect on both the health and development of those calves and less risk of disease for the other animals on the farm as well.

Pre-calving preparation

From July onwards, we will be getting into pre-calving season and now is the time to start preparing. We asked one of our dairy farmers who runs an autumn block calving herd consisting of 120 Holstein-Friesians (80/120 cows due September), how they prepare for calving [...]

Vortex Holsteins won’t be giving up their skim and buttermilk-based milk replacer

Calf mortality rate from birth to weaning has fallen to just 1.5% at a Dorset dairy farm since a new milk replacer made from low heat skim and buttermilk was introduced.