April 2013 Edition
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Why SHould producers use a colostrum replacer?
The dam’s colostrum has the potential
to set calves up for success, so why
should you consider supplementing
or replacing it? There are many
times when Mother Nature may fall
short either in the quantity or quality
of maternal colostrum, in the vigor
of the newborn or in the mothering
aptitude of the dam. When choosing a
colostrum replacer, there are several
important factors to consider.
As a producer, you want your calves off to the best start
possible. The path to high yields begins with healthy calves
and this is dependent on a good colostrum management
program. One way to help achieve this is by using a high
quality colostrum replacer.
replacer is an excellent opportunity for ensuring and
optimizing calf health and herd efficiencies. No matter what
that calf is worth, in order to fulfill its potential, you cannot
afford to allow it to miss early colostrum feeding or feed it
poor quality colostrum.
The calf receives many important factors from colostrum
supplying the newborn with immunity, energy, growth
and metabolic factors, vitamins and minerals. Calves need
colostrum within a few hours after birth while the newborn
gut allows absorption of the critical molecules. Without
protection provided by colostral immunoglobulins, calves are
at risk for infection with pathogens requiring treatment, or
even resulting in death.
What can a colostrum product do for you?
At birth, calves also need to receive colostral fat to kick start
its body’s brown fat metabolism for energy production. In
cold climates this prevents hypothermia; whereas in hot
climates it provides the energy needed to stay cool. Calves
have a narrow thermoneutral zone and are sensitive to even
small changes in environmental temperatures. Colostral fat
provides the immediate energy to get the calf up and nursing.
Whether it be for convenience or peace of mind, a colostrum
• Reduce death loss due to hypothermia, heat stress, and
disease
• Reduce cost of treatment and time needed to treat calfhood diseases like scours and pneumonia
• Improve average daily gain
• Save time involved in collecting, testing, storing and
warming colostrum
• Improve long-term performance in the milk barn or
greater return on investment in beef herds
So what should you look for in a colostrum
replacer?
Not all colostrum replacers are the same. Often, colostrum
replacers do not even contain colostrum. The easiest way to
find out what is in a replacer is to look at the ingredient list.
Testimonial:
The only ingredient you should see in a quality colostrum
replacer is colostrum. Many are formulas made from plasma
or whey and vegetable fats or tallow. However, while these
products can be very inexpensive, as you probably know, you
get what you pay for. Why pay for a product that the calf can
only partially utilize and is not guaranteed effective?
The colostrum replacers that you can trust have CFIA or
USDA Veterinary Biologics permits; this means that every
batch of colostrum produced is rigorously tested in the lab
and in calves. Specifically, a CFIA or USDA Veterinary
Biologics number on a colostrum replacer means that the
product is potent, safe, and effective. Look for a replacer
made from colostrum that has a high IgG (not “globulin
protein”) content, natural colostral fat and has been approved
by the CFIA or USDA Veterinary Biologics divisions as an
aid in the treatment of failure of passive transfer.
You should use a colostrum product to replace
maternal colostrum if you...
…wish to reduce the time required to handle your own
colostrum,
…wish to reduce the spread of disease in your herd,
... don’t have enough good quality maternal colostrum on
hand.
You should use a colostrum product to supplement
maternal colostrum if you…
…want to boost the quality of the colostrum on hand,
…see a calf attempting to suckle but for peace of mind want
to ensure the calf receives enough colostrum,
…wish to feed small amounts of colostrum in the days
following birth for extended immune protection.
In order to ensure the best outcome, it is crucial that
calves get the best start. And the best way to do that is
to use a colostrum replacer that is made from natural
bovine colostrum. It is quick, convenient, and proven to be
safe, potent, and effective. Your calf is your investment;
don’t settle for poor quality replacement products in your
colostrum management.
“It is imperative at Horn Livestock to create
and deliver healthy newborn calves with the
growing demand we have for show steers and
bulls. The expectation of our customer is
higher than ever. So for the past five years, we
start with Saskatoon Colostrum’s Colostrum
Replacers to provide consistently high rates of
successful passive transfer. We feel that if we
can get a full replacer dose in them, our calves
will have improved immunity against enteric and
respiratory challenges to maximize that genetic
potential.”
Brandon Horn
Horn Livestock
Anson, Texas
*The Saskatoon Colostrum Company
manufactures colostrum products for calves
under the trade names:
Land O’Lakes Colostrum Replacement,
Calf’s Choice Total, HEADSTART, Bovine
Dried Colostrum, Calf’s Choice & Colostro.
Colostrum products for lambs and kids are
under the trade names:
HEADSTART HiCal, LambGro/KidGro,
Kid’s Choice Total, Lamb’s Choice Total.
Have a question for one of our experts? Want to
submit an article or testimonial for consideration?
Send us your questions, comments or suggestions; we welcome
your feedback!
Email: [email protected]
CO
LO
STR
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SASKATOON
HE
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UM CO
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Deserae Posein
Marketing Specialist - The Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd.
Editor - Colostrum Counsel
30 Molaro Place
Saskatoon, SK S7K 6A2
Toll Free: 1(866) 242-3185
Telephone: (306) 242-3185
Fax: (306) 242-3185
www.saskcolostrum.com