Provision of Adequate Colostrum
Optimal transfer of immunoglobulin will occur when calves are administered first milking colostrum at 7.5% to 10% of body weight within 2 hours after birth. The initial feed should provide the calf with a minimum of 150 g of IgG within 2 hours after birth.
This is required to ensure that 90% of calves have optimal passive transfer.43 Dairy calves should be administered colostrum by nipple bottle or esophageal tube, as there is increased failure of passive transfer in dairy calves that are left on their dam.3,44,45 This is due to the reduced volume of colostrum, and therefore mass of IgG, consumed by the calf if left to suckle naturally during the first 24 hours.27 Conversely, separation of beef calves from the dam is not practical and may result in mismothering. Generally, failure of passive transfer is less of a problem in beef cattle, as the lower volume of colostrum produced results in elevated concentration of IgG, and supplementation is recommended only following dystocia.
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