In the Upper Midwest, spring calving can prove challenging with unpredictable weather usually bringing plenty of snow or rain, leading to frigid temperatures and even mud. Therefore, as beef producers, we do our best to tend to newborn calves and help get them off on the right hoof immediately by providing them with the most important nutrient: colostrum.
First milk
The first milk a dam produces after calving is called colostrum, which is highly concentrated in antibodies or immunoglobulins such as IgG. Newborn calves need to receive colostrum within 12 to 24 hours after birth to obtain passive immunity from the dam, as antibodies are not transferred across the placenta during gestation.
It is recommended beef calves receive 2 to 3 quarts of colostrum within the first 24 hours of life. After 24 hours, the ability of the newborn gut to absorb antibodies decreases, and transfer is greatly reduced. Failure of calves to receive adequate colostrum can result in potential illness and growth performance challenges down the road.
So what options are available when the first milk is not there for the calf due to dystocia, calf suckling difficulties, orphans, etc.? Alternative sources of colostrum and nutrients are available through calf products that may provide some immunity when producers encounter these challenging situations.
Time should be spent studying the product labels for nutrient content, dosage and timing of administration differences to make sure the correct product is used and will deliver desired results.
Colostrum replacers and supplements
The best colostrum replacement out there is one usually not found in the store but in your freezer. If the opportunity presents itself (a cow loses a calf or a cow has an abundance of colostrum available), colostrum can be frozen and stored for later use in quart-size freezer bags or other freezer storage containers.
Caution should always be used when going this route, as sourcing colostrum from within your herd is best, but outside sources can be used if receiving from a well-vaccinated and disease-free herd.
Thawing frozen colostrum should be done slowly by placing the bag in warm water (110ºF) and stirring every five minutes until warmed to 104 to 110ºF. (This will take about 40 minutes.) Do not use a microwave oven, as overheating proteins in the colostrum will cause them to denature and deliver little immunity to the newborn calf.
Commercial colostrum replacements can be purchased in products with greater than 100 grams of IgG per dose. Colostrum supplements are also available and will have less than 100 grams of IgG per dose (normally 50 grams). How do producers decide between using a colostrum replacement and a supplement? If maternal colostrum is entirely unavailable, a replacement product should be used.
However, if some maternal colostrum is available to the newborn, but not an adequate amount (2 to 3 quarts), a colostrum supplement can help make up the difference. Price is reflected in the different options, as colostrum replacements will be more expensive since they provide more IgG to ensure successful passive transfer and necessary nutritional components.
Calf paste
In recent years, oral calf paste or gel products have become popular to provide additional specific nutrients to newborn calves. These products are commonly available in 30-milliliter tubes, which are often more convenient than going to the house to mix up a colostrum replacement or supplement. But do the pastes provide the same protection as colostrum does? Not always.
Calf pastes will vary in design to provide all or some of the following supplements: energy, vitamins, minerals, E. coli prevention, probiotics and lactic acid, to name a few. Note: These are not the same as colostrum replacements or supplements; therefore, it is important to not substitute one for the other based on calf needs.
If a calf needs a small burst of energy on a cold day or appetite stimulation, paste may be a convenient option for producers. Yet long-term benefits are not the goal of these products.
Electrolytes
Calf scours costs the beef industry millions of dollars each year. Not only does calf mortality reduce income but, also, the loss in performance of calves that encounter scours and do not fully recover is continually challenging profitability. Ultimately, scours should be prevented if adequate colostrum is provided at birth. However, as I already mentioned, this does not always happen, and intervention with an electrolyte product may be necessary to rehydrate calves.
Electrolyte solutions should be sourced to contain vitamins and minerals, especially sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate, in addition to electrolytes. A dose of electrolytes should contain 2 quarts of fluid and be repeated every two to six hours as needed. As electrolytes are not a complete nutrient replacer, some energy and protein supplements may be necessary if the calf is not nursing consistently.
As long as the calf is not in severe dehydration, nursing does not prolong or worsen diarrhea. If severe dehydration and weakness occurs, additional communication with your veterinarian is required and intravenous fluids may be necessary for faster fluid recovery. Keep in mind, just because the scours and diarrhea eventually stop, gut healing also needs to occur to regain nutrient absorption and enable future performance.
Bottom line
Calf products are not the main place of emphasis when preparing for calving season. Yearlong, producers should be evaluating their management program in regards to providing proper nutrition for the dam during gestation, body condition going into calving season and prime management of both dam and calf at birth with dry calving areas.
However, when the stars don’t align, make sure you know what calf product options are available and which ones should be handy to have on the shelf this calving season. For assistance in preparing a calving barn calf health kit, visit with your veterinarian or extension specialists sooner rather than later so you’re ready when a newborn calf is in need. 
PHOTO: In the event of dystocia, loss of dam or calf suckling difficulties, an alternative source of colostrum must be provided to ensure a healthy and successful calf. Photo by Getty Images.
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Taylor Grussing
- Cow-Calf Field Specialist
- SDSU Extension
- Email Taylor Grussing
