At birth, the calf has no antibodies to fight pathogens. The calf can develop antibodies only if good colostrum is fed as quickly as possible. This means colostrum from a cow that has been present on the farm for some time and has thus built up antibodies against specific farm-related pathogens.
Colostrum on the first milking day contains most of the antibodies needed. If colostrum is to be frozen, it is therefore best to take colostrum from this first day. Sometimes, this colostrum is preferable to the mother’s own colostrum, especially with newly purchased cows and heifers because it has specific stable antibodies.
Colostrum contains:
- antibodies
- materials that stimulate excretion of the first manure
- easily digestible nutrients, minerals and vitamins
The large protein molecules albumin/globulin are carriers of the antibodies. The calf is only able to ingest these entirely intact antibodies from milk during the first 24 hours of birth. This is for two reasons:
- the pH value in the abomasum is still so high that antibodies cannot be broken down in this environment;
- the intestinal wall is pervious to antibodies: after ± 24 hours this same intestinal wall will become impervious to antibodies.
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