Colostrum is the name given the milk produced just before and after the calf is born. The first colostrum is very different from most of the milk produced during the lactation.
It contains about twice the solid level of normal milk and the very high level of immunoglobulin.
The greatest difference in colostrum and later milk is the extremely high level of the protein, globulin that contains the antibodies. Its fat content is often, but not always, higher than that of milk.
Of the individual minerals Ca, Na, Mg, P and chloride are higher in colostrum but K is lower.
Claves should have access to 4 L to colostrum within the first six hours of life. They will not need any additional milk for the next 12 to 24 hours.
Colostrum of dairy cattle
