Excellent colostrum management for beef calves ensures successful maternal antibody tranfer in beef calves. It is crucial for calves in cow-calf operations to receive high-quality cow colostrum as soon as possible after delivery. That is why colostrum quality matters for calf immunity. Colostrum, the first milk produced by cows, is rich in immunoglobulins, essential nutrients, and growth factors that are critical for beef calf survival, immunity and growth. There are best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations, metrics to evaluate maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle and natural ways to enhance cow colostrum quality of cattle in cow-calf operations.

Cow colostrum provides beef calves with passive immunity through maternal antibodies. Cow colostrum assists newborn beef calves since their immune systems are undeveloped and cannot manufacture antibodies right away. Furthermore, newborn beef calves have not been exposed to pathogens and as a result, they do not have an immunological memory. This means that the immune response of newborn beef calves is slow and often inadequate. Successful maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle can protect beef calves against pathogens during the critical early weeks of life. Cow colostrum benefits also include delivery of energy and essential nutrients that support thermoregulation, growth, and gut development of beef calves.

According to studies conducted in western Canada¹, 28% of beef calves have failure of passive immune transfer, whereas maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle is successful in 72% of beef calves. Similar studies conducted in the United States ² demonstrate that in 75–85%, maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle is successful. Regional differences in maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle are ascribed to environmental stress, management, and diet.

Beef calves that are born in challenging conditions (e.g., harsh weather, high pathogen loads, or beef calves born to heifers) show even lower rates of successful maternal antibody in beef cattle. Up to 30–50% of beef calves in more challenging conditions suffer from failure of passive immunity transfer ^3,4.

Poor maternal antibody transfer in beef calves results in a higher incidence of disease in the first 28 days of their life and a higher disease incidence and a higher mortality in the period between birth and weaning. Beef calves with failure of passive immune transfer also have a higher disease risk in the period after they have been moved into a feedlot. If maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle is poor, weaning weight and Average Daily Gain will also be lower^4,5.
In a study⁴ carried out in the US, 21% of beef calves suffered from failure of maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle, 28% had a partially adequate maternal antibody transfer and only 51% of beef calves had an adequate maternal antibody transfer. Beef calves with failure of passive immune transfer were compared with beef calves that had adequate passive immune transfer or with beef calves with partially adequate passive immune transfer (see Table 1).

Compared to beef calves with adequate maternal antibody transfer, beef calves with partial or complete failure of maternal antibody transfer had:

• An increased risk of mortality during the period between birth and weaning
• An increased risk of morbidity in the first 28 days of their lives and during the entire period between birth and weaning
• A 16 kg lower body weight a weaning

When compared to beef calves with adequate or partially adequate passive immune transfer, beef calves with failure of maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle had a 9.5-time higher risk of being classified as sick before weaning.

Once moved into the feedlot, calves with failure of maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle had:

• An increased risk of morbidity in general as well as morbidity due to respiratory disease
• A 40 gram lower mean Average Daily Gain

This is why colostrum quality matters for calf immunity.

The immunoglobulin concentration is a crucial metric for evaluating the quality of beef cow colostrum. While measuring immunoglobulin levels in colostrum is a routine process for dairy farmers, it is not part of best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations. Compared to other colostrum quality parameters, the immunoglobulin concentration of cow colostrum is relatively easy to measure. High-quality colostrum for beef calves contains at least 50 mg/mL of immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Cow colostrum quality can be measured with a colostrometer or with a refractometer. Studies^6,7,8,9 have reported that a value between 18% and 23% Brix, measured with a Brix refractometer is an appropriate cut-off point for determining good-quality colostrum (IgG >50 g/L).

The effectiveness of maternal antibody transfer in beef catle can be assessed by taking serum samples of beef calves shortly after birth and measuring the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Beef calves generally require a higher concentration of IgG in their blood (24 g/L) to indicate successful maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle compared to dairy cattle (10 g/L)^10,11,12. This higher requirement is due to the differences in their environment, management systems, and inherent risks^10,13,14,15.

Beef calves are facing a higher environmental exposure to pathogens
Beef calves are often born outdoors in pasture settings where exposure to environmental pathogens can be higher compared to dairy calves, which are typically born in a more controlled barn environment. The increased exposure of beef calves to pathogens means beef calves need a stronger immune defence, which is achieved by higher levels of IgG in their blood. That is why colostrum quality matters for calf immunity.

Differences in maternal supervision of beef cows and in early care
Beef calves are often managed with less human intervention immediately after birth, relying more heavily on maternal care of their dams. In contrast, dairy calves are often closely monitored and managed in individual housing systems, which can reduce pathogen exposure and the immediate need for high IgG levels.

Variation between beef calves in cow colostrum intake behaviour
Beef calves typically nurse directly from their mothers. The colostrum quality of beef cattle is not measured. The intake of colostrum by beef calves may be less consistent compared to dairy calves, who are usually fed measured volumes of high-quality cow colostrum by hand. The variability in colostrum consumption explains why colostrum quality matters for calf immunity. If colostrum quality is excellent, more calves in the herd will reach the IgG treshold that indicates succesfull maternal antibdy transfer in beef cattle.

Survival and growth expectations for beef calves
Beef calves are expected to thrive in a more rugged and less controlled environment. Therefore immunity of beef calves needs to be stronger to survive the harsher conditions of range or pasture. This means that succesfull maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle is very important. Dairy calves, by contrast, are generally raised in environments designed to minimize health challenges, so the threshold for adequate maternal antibody transfer is lower. That is why maternal anitbody transfer in beef cattle is only considered to be successful if serum IgG levels of beef calves immediately after birth are 24 g/L or higher.

Higher disease risk in cow-calf operation settings
Best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations often include that beef calves remain with their mothers, increasing their risk of exposure to diseases through contact with other beef cattle and shared environments. Dairy calves are typically separated from their dams and raised in more isolated conditions, reducing their pathogen exposure and the immediate need for elevated IgG levels.

Physiological and immunological differences
Beef breeds may have slightly different physiological demands or immunological responses compared to the demands and responses of dairy breeds. This necessitates a higher IgG threshold for successful maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle to ensure optimal health outcomes.

In summary, beef calves need a higher IgG level of 24 g/L ^{10,11,12,13,14,15} , which reflects the increased environmental risks and different management practices in beef systems, compared to the more controlled and closely monitored conditions in which dairy calves are typically raised. This is why colostrum quality matters for calf immunity, the higher threshold for IgG levels in beef calf serum ensures that beef calves have the robust passive immunity required to thrive in their natural, often challenging environments.

How to improve colostrum quality in beef cows

Best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations include that beef calves receive cow colostrum within the first 2 hours of life, as their ability to absorb antibodies decreases significantly after 12–24 hours. Beef calves should consume 8-10% of their body weight in colostrum within the first 24 hours. For an average beef calf weighing 40 kg, approximately 3-4 litres of cow colostrum needs to be fed within 24 hours fter birth to ensure materenal antibody transfer in beef cattle is successful. The majority of beef calves nurse directly from their dams. This means that neither the colostrum quality of beef cows nor the intake of cow colostrum by beef calves is being measured. Compared to dairy calves, it is harder to ensure that best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations are implemented successfully. It is therefore important to implement strategies to improve colostrum quality in beef cows.

High-quality beef cow colostrum contains sufficient immunoglobulin G (IgG), nutrients, and growth factors essential for calf health. Best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations therefore include optimizing the health and management of the cow during pregnancy and during the period immediately after calving.

A beef cow's nutritional status significantly impacts colostrum production and quality. The late gestation period of beef cattle is critical. Nutrient demands for foetal growth and colostrum synthesis increase during this period^12,16. Natural ways to enhance colostrum quality in cattle therefore include adequate supply of energy and protein to meet the nutritional demands of beef cattle during late pregnancy. Supplementing trace minerals for beef cattle (e.g., zinc, selenium, copper) and vitamins (e.g., vitamin E), that support immune function and antibody production, is important during this period. Trials in dairy cattle¹⁷ have shown that feeding Selko IntelliBond trace minerals instead of sulphates increases colostrum production by 19% (See Figure 1).

Increase antibody levels of the dam through vaccination
Vaccinating beef cattle during the final trimester of gestation improves colostrum quality by increasing the specific antibodies transferred to the calf^18,19. If vaccines target prevalent pathogens in the region, such as Escherichia coli, rotavirus, and coronavirus, they can result in an improvement of maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle.

Minimize stress of beef cattle during late pregnancy
Stress during late pregnancy negatively impacts colostrum quality of beef cows by suppressing the immune system and reducing antibody concentration^{20, 21}. Best practices for colostrum management in cow-calf operations therefore include provision of adequate space, minimizing overcrowding and ensuring that cows can calve in an environment that is as stress-free as possible. Never seperate cows that are calving from the rest of the beef cattle in the cow-calf operation. Handle pregnant beef cows gently to avoid unnecessary disruptions during late pregnancy.

Prevent and treat disease and parasite infestations of beef cattle
Best practices for managing colostrum quality in cow-calf operations include treating and preventing internal parasites, such as worms, and diseases like Johne's disease or mastitis, which can reduce colostrum yield and colostrum quality of beef cattle^22,23. Implement regular health monitoring and parasite control protocols for beef cattle.

Ensure the Body Condition Score of beef cattle at calving is correct
A correct Body Condition Score of beef cows at calving would be 5.0 to 6.0 on a 9-point scale. Cows with an optimal BCS (5-6 on a 9-point scale) during calving produce better colostrum than under-conditioned (too thin) or over-conditioned (too fat) cows^24,25. If beef cows calve with a BCS of 4.0 or thinner, they produce less colostrum. The calving process of beef cows with a low BCS at calving is slower and they give birth to calves that are less vigorous and stand later²⁶. The poor maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle with low BCS cores results in poor performance of their calves (see Table 2). This illustrates the importance of targeting mature cows to calve in a BCS of at least 5.0. First-calf-heifers have only reached about 85% of their mature weight after calving and therefore require additional nutrients to support growth. Aim at a BCS of 6.0 at calving for beef heifers in cow-calf operations.

Dystocia can reduce colostrum quality of beef cattle and delays milk letdown^27,28. Dystocia can also have a negative impact on beef calf vigour directly after calving. Avoid delayed calving and a prolonged calving process of beef cows by managing calving timing and by ensuring beef cows are in a stress-free environment when they are calving.

Select for genetics favouring colostrum quality of beef cattle
Some cows naturally produce higher-quality cow colostrum due to genetic predisposition. Natural ways to enhance colostrum quality in beef cattle therefore include the use of sires and dams with a history of good colostrum production. Selection of animals for breeding can therefore improve herd maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle over time^29,30.

Selko cattle mineral supplements and phytogenic feed additives for beef cattle can improve cow colostrum quality

Impact of Selko IntelliBond on colostrum production
Compared to sulphate trace mineral sources, Selko IntelliBond trace minerals are less reactive in the rumen, resulting in an improvement of rumen function³¹, NDF digestibility³², health³³ and performance¹⁷ of cattle. A trial in dairy cattle carried out at the University of Florida¹⁷ showed that feeding Selko IntelliBond trace minerals resulted in an increase of cow colostrum volume of 19%.

Selko Fytera Secure, a phytogenic feed additive improving colostrum quality in beef cows
Selko Fytera Secure is phytogenic feed additive for beef cattle containing a blend of turmeric, capsicum, and black pepper extracts. Feeding Selko Fytera Secure to beef cattle during the last 30 days before calving can be used for improving colostrum quality in beef cows, resulting in a significant improvement of maternal antibody transfer to beef calves (see Figure 2) and an increase in body weight at day 56 after birth³⁴. Using phytogenic feed additives for beef cattle is therefore one of the natural ways to enhance colostrum quality in cattle.

How to improve colostrum quality in beef cows includes understanding the role of proper nutrition, vaccination, stress management, and management of overall health of the cow during pregnancy. By implementing best practices for improving colostrum management in cow-calf operations, producers can significantly improve maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle. These efforts contribute to healthier calves with better passive immunity and a better long-term health and performance. Implementing genetic selection and maintaining optimal body condition scores are natural ways to enhance colostrum quality in cattle and should be part of long-term strategies to sustain high-quality colostrum production.

Selko IntelliBond and Selko Fytera Secure are feed additives for beef cattle that can be included in a programme to improve colostrum management in cow-calf operations. Feeding Selko IntelliBond to beef cattle during pregnancy increases the amount of colostrum produced. A natural way to enhance colostrum quality in cattle is the use of a phytogenic feed additive such as Selko Fytera Secure. Both products have the potential of improving colostrum management in cow-calf operations, reducing the risk of failure of maternal antibody transfer in beef cattle.