Farmers are now in an era where you need to make sure that you’re being cost-effective but also keep a critical eye on welfare. Because of this, colostrum is more important than ever. Colostrum is a cheap and very accessible way of preventing disease, but most farmers under-use it so colostrum doesn’t reach its full potential. In addition to disease-fighting antibodies, colostrum provides crucial nutrients to newborn calves. You should have a vet check your calves to make sure your colostrum is of high quality.
Key Takeaways:
- Very underutilized, Colostrum is one of the most accessible and cheapest disease prevention methods a farmer can use.
- By using enough, high quality colostrum within the first six hours of life will reduce mortality and disease within the entire herd/flock.
- Colostrum provides antibodies that help form and develop many important parts of the immune system. New-born livestock have very little body fat meaning fats and carbohydrates are very good for them.
“Farmers now operate in an era where efficiency and cost savings are key, but welfare is critical”
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