Why is colostrum important for calves?
Colostrum (milk produced in the first two days of calving) contains high levels of antibodies that calves need to prevent diseases caused by organisms found in most dairy farms. Calves are born with few of their own antibodies and an immature immune system that is unable to produce antibodies for a few weeks
Calves deprived of colostrum are 50 to 75 times more likely to die during the first three weeks of life, mostly in the first week.
