What are the benefits of cow colostrum for beef calves?
The first meal of colostrum that a calf gets is the most important meal of its life. To prevent colostrum deficiency in calves, a calf should drink at least 4 litres of good quality cow colostrum within the first 12 hours after birth. Cow colostrum is important for beef calves for a number of reasons.
Cow colostrum is required for maternal antibody transfer to beef calves
Cow colostrum contains bovine colostrum immunoglobulin that can be absorbed by the calf up to 12-24 hours after birth. Excellent maternal antibody transfer to beef calves is crucial because a calf is born without a so-called “immunological memory”. It therefore needs bovine colostrum immunoglobulin for protection against neonatal disease.
Bovine colostrum contains essential growth factors for beef calves
Bovine colostrum contains a number of growth factors1,2 that are essential for gut integrity of beef calves, development of the immune system and growth (see Figure 1). The two most important growth factors for beef calves, insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and 2) and transforming growth factors alpha and beta (TGF-A and B), are only found in bovine colostrum3. A beef calf therefore needs bovine colostrum to reach an optimal weaning weight.
Bovine colostrum is essential for thermoregulation of beef calves
Thermoregulation of young beef calves is suboptimal, so they need energy immediately after birth. Lipid stores in newborn calves are limited, they are sufficient for up to 15 hours of survival without feed4. Energy in bovine colostrum is mainly coming from protein and fat, less from lactose. Bovine colostrum contains 5,4 kJ ME/l compared to 2,8 kJ ME/l for cow milk. Beef calves that do not consume colostrum within the first few hours after birth will therefore become weak and lethargic, without a suckling reflex. Beef calves therefore need bovine colostrum to help them survive the first few hours after birth and to reduce the risk of developing colostrum deficiency of beef calves.