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Antibody Absorption
source: Penn State
From this graph, you can see the importance of getting the colostrum into the calf as soon as possible. By 24 hours old, the calf’s ability to absorb antibodies has rapidly declined. This decline starts 30 minutes after birth which stresses the importance of feeding calves colostrum as soon as they are born.
The mighty immune system
source: Penn State
This graph shows how long the passive immunity from colostrum lasts when the calf is given the correct quality and quantity of colostrum. By day 14 the calf has entered into the risk period for sickness. At this time the calf is starting to activate its own immune system rather than the immunity gained from the colostrum.
Feeding the Newborn Dairy Calf
Colostrum, Providing ’Natural’ Immunity and Improving Health and Survival of the Young Animal
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 Bottles, buckets and nipples
Bottles, buckets and nipples should be washed using soap and hot water (80°C). The bottles, buckets and nipples should then be rinsed with a 10% bleach solution. After cleaning, let the bottles, buckets and nipples dry before the next use to reduce bacterial load.
Bottles and buckets with cuts, grooves or scratches on the inside should be discarded. That is an ideal place for bacteria to grow.
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 Collecting Colostrum
Wash your hands before collecting colostrum.
Cleanly collect colostrum from the cow. Prepare the udder as you would for milking.
Clean mother’s teats and teat ends using a single cloth or towel approach as follows; strip, dip/wash, dry, and apply milking unit. If using a bucket milker, make sure the bucket, inflations and hoses are clean and in a state of good repair as these apparatuses can transfer bacteria to the teat canal.
Collect colostrum from mother within 15 minutes of calving.
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Colostrum Management
Why is colostrum so important to a newborn calf?
A calf is born with a naïve immune system. The placenta of the cow does not allow immunoglobulins to pass through the maternal blood to the fetus. A newly born calf will not be able to respond to a pathogen the same way an older calf with a more mature immune system would, and is likely to become sick. Colostrum gives the calf passive immunity from its mother, and when it is about three weeks of age, it will start to develop its own immune system.
Colostrum is higher in total solids and protein compared to regular milk.
Feeding and Management of Young Dairy Calves
Colostrum Protein as a Source of Nutrition for the Newborn Calf
Passive Immunity in Ontario Dairy Calves and Influence of Calf Management Practices
Health Status of Calves in North America and Scandinavia
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 Colostrum quality
Colostrum should look like and have the consistency of melted vanilla ice cream. Runny, thin colostrum or colostrum mixed with blood are signs of poor quality. To test for quality use a colostrometer.
Calves that have a total protein concentration greater than 5.5g/dL have received adequate colostrum. Testing can occur from six hours after the first colostrum feeding to one week of age. Your veterinarian can do random blood tests, which is good feedback on the effectiveness of your colostrum management.
Colostrum samples can be sent for testing. Bacteria counts should be less than 100,000cfu/mL. High bacteria counts are associated with poor colostrum absorption in the calf. Colostrum may also become a source of infection.
If your herd is being screened for Jöhnes, calves should be fed colostrum from pre-selected "colostrum donors".
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