Colostrum Management
The newborn calf has a naïve immune system and depends on the feeding of adequate amounts of colostrum. When calves do not consume enough colostrum during the first 12 hours of life - or they consume low colostrum quality, it can lead to a condition called failure of passive transfer (FPT), which makes calves more susceptible to diseases during calfhood.
Biggest risk for FPT: Dystocia, or difficult birth.
Calves may have low vigor after a long calving. Check the suckle reflex by inserting a finger into the calf’s mouth and feel the strength with which the calf suckles. If a calf does not have a good strong suckle reflex 10 minutes after it is born, it will likely need help with colostrum uptake.
A decision tree outlines when to intervene if calves are not seen suckling their dam after birth. Click on the link below for a printer-friendly version.
> When to Intervene: Ensuring Colostrum Consumption After Calving (UC ANR resource)
Try these options to get a calf its colostrum:
- Guide the calf to the dam and encourage it to nurse from her udder.
- Convenient if cow is still in chute after pulling the calf.
If unsuccessful:
- Feed a commercial colostrum replacer with at least 150 g of IgG as stated on the package.
- Calves need 200 – 300 g of total IgG – calves may need a second feeding before they are 12 hours old if they aren’t seen drinking from the dam after the first feeding.
- Try a nipple bottle first – if the calf refuses or takes too long.
- Use an esophageal feeder.
UC ANR YouTube video on the proper use of an esophageal feeder in calves:
Important for using an esophageal tube feeder:
- Keep the calf’s head in a neutral position rather than letting it stretch its heads up.
- The tube is less likely inserted into the windpipe which would drown the calf.
- Feel the neck to ensure the rigid tube can be felt. To learn more on esophageal tube feeding:
To learn more on FPT and esophageal tube feeding:
>Using an Esophageal Tube for colostrum feeding (UC ANR resource:)
Watch a UC ANR webinar on Neonatal Calf Health:
Additional resources available on the web:
Website on ways to prevent dystocia and what to do during a difficult calving** ..
*from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in the UK.
**from Iowa State Unversity’s Iowa Beef Center
***from the University of Nebraska