Between 6% and 10% of calves are lost on dairy farms in the UK, with scours and pneumonia accounting for three-quarters of the deaths. Calves are not born with immunity to any of the diseases around them. The only way a calf can pick up any immunity is through colostrum. Farms with good colostrum management will make more sales, regardless of what nutritional programme is implemented next.
This paper is by Allaster Dallas, The Farm Consultancy Group
Colostrum is the foundation for all calf nutrition, and the recommendation is to feed between 8 to 10% of the calf’s body weight within the first four hours of life (ideally 2 hours), and a second dose of the same amount within 6 to 8 hours. Both doses must ideally be 37/38 C. The aim is to maximise the passive transfer of immunity from the dam to the calf. If you are using pooled colostrum, the disease incidence of the animals pooled must be determined.