A122
Colostrum, Antibodies,
and Passive Transfer

General Information: Colostrum, the first milk produced by the cow after calving, should be thick and creamy with no blood in it. Colostrum contains the maternal antibodies essential for disease prevention in the newborn. The mother, if properly vaccinated prior to calving, should naturally produce these antibodies and will pass them to the calf in the colostrum. Antibodies are the immune system components that identify a viral or bacterial invader and fight off the infection. Protection passed from the mother to calf through colostrum is called passive transfer. Failure of passive transfer will lead to sickness, poor weight gain, and possible death. With this as a background, the following concepts are a must to ensure healthy animals:

  1. Vaccination programs:
  1. It is essential that a proper and up-to-date vaccination program be established for each herd. This schedule, developed for each herd and the problems encountered, should be under the direction of a veterinarian. See the vaccination schedule on page A905 for suggestions.
  2. No matter how effective colostrum management is, the colostrum will not likely contain adequate antibodies to provide sufficient protection if there has not been a previous vaccination program implemented in the mother cows.
  1. Measuring antibodies in colostrum:
  1. A simple and effective method of ensuring adequate antibody levels in a colostrum sample involves using a colostrometer. This instrument measures the amount of antibodies present in a sample. See page D125 for specifics on use of this instrument.
  1. Feeding colostrum: (If a calf does not nurse normally after delivery, or if it is separated immediately after birth, feeding colostrum will be necessary.)
  1. Feed 4 quarts in the first 24 hours. It is essential to administer 2 quarts in the first 6 hours. This is because with time, the calf’s stomach changes and allows less and less antibody absorption.
  2. This can be accomplished using an esophageal tube feeder.  See page B850 for more information on using and esophageal tube feeder.
  1. Storing and using the colostrum:
  1. Colostrum that tests high in antibodies can be frozen for up to one year. It is best to thaw this milk in a hot water bath or in the refrigerator. 
  2. It is possible to dilute colostrum high in antibodies with normal milk as long as antibodies remain within the acceptable level on the colostrometer.

*Never use colostrum from animals that are possible BLV, BVD, Mycoplasma or Johnes disease suspects since these diseases can be shed in the milk.