Colostrum is vital to the newborn calf as it contains antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins or IgG) to provide immunity and it is also rich in essential nutrients to provide energy for growth. The 3 Qs of colostrum (Quantity, Quality, Quickly) relates to ensuring that calves receive at least 3 litres of colostrum, containing greater than 50g/litre of IgG within 2 hours.

This handy two sider details the importance of the 3 Qs and how best to make sure the protocols used on farm give the calves the best start possible.

Testing colostrum is an important task that should be completed at every collection. The test results help you to make an informed decision as to whether the colostrum is good enough to be fed or stored, or needs to be discarded.

This handy two sided factsheet details the two methods of testing colostrum - colostrometer and Brix refractometer plus information on what the results mean.

Contamination of the colostrum during collection, transfer or feeding puts the calf at risk by introducing harmful bacteria when the calf has no active immunity to fight infection.

This handy two sided factsheet details the different times when colostrum is at risk of contamination along with information on storage methods.

This review was undertaken as part of the DairyCo funded research partnership with RVC to look at the research behind the advice given to producers on the feeding of colostrum to new born calves. This literature review is published in Cattle Practice. Patel, S., Gibbons, J., Wathes, D.C. 2014. Ensuring optimal colostrum transfer to new-born dairy calves. Cattle Practice. Volume 22, Part 1, p95-104

Newborn piglets are poorly equipped to keep warm immediately after birth and as the energy reserves to produce body heat (glycogen stored in the liver) are limited, the combination of factors below means that piglets often become chilled. Piglets are also born with no immunity and can only get this from colostrum soon after birth. A minimum of 100 ml of colostrum per kilogram of birthweight within the first 16 hours is crucial to provide the energy, nutrients and antibodies needed for survival.

Split suckling is a technique which can be used to help provide enough colostrum to all piglets within a large litter. Split suckling is often used on the first few large litters when fostering options are limited and/or there is large variation in piglet size within one litter.

Many units have litters consisting of varying birth weights and these can become more varied, and on average smaller, the higher the number born alive. However at what point does low birth weight affect viability and become a problem? This document discusses the factors which influence birth weight and what can be done to control it.

Making sure all calves have consumed sufficient colostrum as soon as possible after birth is vital, as it provides both protective antibodies and high-quality nutrition. These help the calf fight disease and deliver high levels of performance. Suckled calves should have drunk three litres of colostrum within two hours of birth. If not, they should be given some via a nipple bottle or stomach tube. The calf’s ability to absorb the immunoglobulins in colostrum reduces significantly from about six hours after birth and has gone completely by 24 hours. Colostrum quality depends on the cow’s body condition at calving and her pre-calving diet. First calvers tend to have poorer quality colostrum than older cows. Particular attention should be paid to trace elements and vitamins in the dry cow ration.

Make sure lambs receive 50ml/kg of colostrum within the first four to six hours of life and continue to consume it during the first 24 hours of life. In 24 hours, a newborn lamb must receive the equivalent of 200ml/kg bodyweight in colostrum. For example, a 5kg lamb needs 1 litre of colostrum in the first day of life. Taking in sufficient colostrum is vital to provide the lamb with essential immunoglobulins and to protect against clostridial and other diseases, depending on the ewe’s vaccination status. Colostrum also provides energy, proteins, vitamins and minerals. It is nutritionally complete and a natural laxative. Studies show that many lambs, particularly triplets and small lambs, do not receive sufficient colostrum during the first hours of life. If extra supplies are needed, colostrum from another ewe in the flock is ideal. Frozen cows’ colostrum can be used but discuss the risks of anaemia with the vet. Do not overheat when thawing out frozen colostrum, as this destroys the vital antibodies.

Most mammary gland development takes place during the last month of pregnancy. There is a clear relationship between the ewe’s energy intake over the last three weeks of pregnancy and colostrum production. Under-nutrition pre-lambing not only reduces the quantity of colostrum and milk produced, but also delays the onset of lactation and increases the viscosity of colostrum. Since viscosity and volume of colostrum are inversely related, this is a major issue for the newborn lamb. In addition, the lamb may find it more difficult to extract thick colostrum from the teat. The mechanism is related to the change in hormone levels in late pregnancy. Under-nutrition delays the fall in progesterone and the udder is deprived of the blood flow it needs to access the substrates for colostrum production. Lambs are born hypo-immunocompetent, with only a small store of energy (in the form of brown fat) for heat production and metabolism. So they are completely dependent on colostrum to supply energy and immunoglobulins. Make sure lambs receive 50ml/kg of colostrum within the first four to six hours of life and continue to consume it during the first 24 hours of life. In 24 hours, a newborn lamb must receive the equivalent of 200ml/kg bodyweight in colostrum. For example, a 5kg lamb needs 1 litre of colostrum in the first day of life. An increase may be necessary in wet and windy conditions in outdoor lambing systems. After six hours, the lamb’s ability to absorb the immunoglobulins into its bloodstream has reduced, which is why it is important to get colostrum in quickly. The primary immunoglobulin in colostrum is immunoglobulin G (IgG). Its concentration in milk decreases rapidly after parturition, at approximately 3.3mg/ml per hour, diminishing to zero by about 23 hours post-lambing. For optimum colostrum production, research shows that the ewe must have the correct balance of protein and energy and that the level of protein required is dependent on the energy available to the ewe. If there is insufficient energy available, the rumen cannot fully utilise the RDP supply for microbial protein synthesis, leading to high levels of ammonia and excess urea production. Conversely, if low levels of protein are fed in pregnancy, this may reduce the utilisation of starch for colostrum synthesis in ewes supplemented with high-energy diets. Cereal grains such as maize, barley or wheat have a high ME and starch content and when used as supplements in the last week of pregnancy, have been shown to enhance colostrum production. The amount of energy, especially glucose, available at the end of pregnancy plays a major role in colostrum synthesis. Provide the correct balance of dietary energy and protein to optimise colostrum and IgG production There is some evidence to support a detrimental effect of over-supplementation of ewes with minerals and trace elements in late pregnancy, eg the effect of excessive iodine on the absorption of IgG by the lamb. There are reports of excess selenium causing higher lamb mortality, through increased respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. Inadequate energy and protein supply leads to poor ewe body condition, small weak lambs and poor yields of colostrum and, subsequently milk.

Making sure all calves have consumed sufficient colostrum as soon as possible after birth is vital, as it provides both protective antibodies and high-quality nutrition. These help the calf fight disease and deliver high levels of performance. Suckled calves should have drunk three litres of colostrum within two hours of birth. If not, they should be given some via a nipple bottle or stomach tube. The calf’s ability to absorb the immunoglobulins in colostrum reduces significantly from about six hours after birth and has gone completely by 24 hours. Colostrum quality depends on the cow’s body condition at calving and her pre-calving diet. First calvers tend to have poorer quality colostrum than older cows. Particular attention should be paid to trace elements and vitamins in the dry cow ration. The focus of feeding dry cows should be to enable them to be at the correct body condition score at calving. Ideally, that means knowing calving date and being able to group cows by body condition score and feed them accordingly. During the dry period, rations should: • Satisfy the cow’s appetite – 1.5-2% of liveweight • Provide sufficient trace elements and minerals • Manage cows to reach target BCS for calving Over-fat and too thin cows risk having problems at calving. Cows that are too fat in late pregnancy will have difficulties due to deposition of fat narrowing the birth canal. Thin cows can lack the strength for calving and produce weak calves and poor quality colostrum. Body condition tends to vary throughout the year with feed supply, but it is best to avoid extreme and rapid changes. Cows should be dry for at least five weeks before calving to ensure there is enough colostrum for the new calf. A cow weaned at BCS 3 and on target to achieve a calving BCS of 2.5, will need to lose about 0.5 BCS. This, over five to six months of winter feeding, is a liveweight loss of 0.25kg/day. Although nutrient requirements increase through pregnancy, gradually at first and then at an ever-increasing rate, research has shown that feeding can be simplified by adopting a flat-rate regime. The cow is rationed according to her liveweight and the required liveweight change at a point eight weeks before calving. So the cow will be slightly over-fed at the beginning of the winter and under-fed at the very end of pregnancy. However, in systems where accurate calving dates are known, there can be merit in increasing the feeding rate slightly, or including proportionally more silage in a grass silage/straw mix, in the four to six weeks pre-calving, to minimise body condition loss and promote colostrum production. Limiting feed to reduce calf weight during the last month of pregnancy can do more harm than good. It can reduce cow fertility and colostrum quality, cause problems for the calf and reduce cow stamina at calving. If cows are too thin at weaning, eg less than BCS 2, they need to be fed to increase condition. For example, a thin cow needing to gain 0.5kg/day over three months would need access to either good quality (10.5MJ ME/kg DM) grass silage ad-lib, or poor silage supplemented with 1-2kg of high energy concentrates.

Preparing the ewe, ensuring she will produce enough colostrum of the right quality, and preventing disease through hygiene and vaccination, will ensure a more successful lambing. Read on...

Milk supplemented with immune colostrum: Protection against rotavirus diarrhea and modulatory effect on the systemic and mucosal antibody responses in calves experimentally challenged with bovine rotavirus. Abstract: Group A bovine rotavirus (BRV) is the major cause of neonatal calf diarrhea worldwide. As a preventive strategy, we evaluated the protection and immunomodulation in two groups of BRV-inoculated calves. All calves received control colostrum (CC; VN= 65,536; IgG1 = 16,384) prior to gut closure followed by the milk supplemented with immune colostrum (VN = 1,048,576; IgG1 = 262,144), twice a day, for 14 days. Calves received milk supplemented with 0.8% immune colostrum [(Gp 1) VN = 16,384; IgG1 = 4096] or milk supplemented with 0.4% immune colostrum [(Gp 2) VN = 1024; IgG1 = 1024]. Calves receiving CC or colostrumdeprived calves (CD) fed antibody (Ab) free milk served as controls (Gp 3 and 4). Calves were inoculated with virulent BRV IND at 2 days of age. Group 1 calves (milk IgG1 4096) showed 80% protection against BRV diarrhea and significantly reduced virus shedding. At21 post-inoculation days (PID), the antibody secreting cell (ASC) responses of Gp 1 calves were limited mainly to duodenal and jejunal lamina propria (LP) with limited ornoresponses in systemic sites (spleen and PBL) andmesenteric lymphnodes.The profile of serum and fecal Ab responses as well as the ASC responses was also modulated by the presence of passive IgG1 Abs and probably other colostrumcomponents, toward higher titers of IgA Ab in serum and feces and a greater number of IgA ASC in the proximal intestine, reflecting positive modulation by colostrum toward this isotype associated with optimal protection of the intestinal mucosa. After challenge, at PID 21, all calves in Gp 1 and 2 were fully protected against diarrhea and only 1 of 5 calves in Gp 1 shed virus asymptomatically, indicating that the passive Ab treatment for 14 days was effective in protecting most of the animals after a first and a second virus exposure. The final outcome was a positive modulation of the mucosal immune responses and a high protection rate against diarrhea and virus shedding during the period of peak susceptibility to BRV infection.

Colostrum contains antibodies which give immunity to the calf at the start of life; therefore colostrum is crucial for protecting against conditions such as scour and pneumonia. Ensuring calves receive adequate colostrum can be a challenge but sticking to the 5 Qs below can help to make sure your youngstock get the best possible start.

Colostrum management is the foundation of successful calf rearing. Colostrum contains a high concentration of protective antibodies, or IgG, alongside a range of other constituents which are crucial for the future growth and development of the calf. Ensuring calves absorb a sufficient quantity of IgG from colostrum in the first few hours after birth is critical to safeguarding their health early in life and optimising their future productivity. Calves should have serum IgG levels of >10mg/ml at 24 hours of age1 The main factors that determine the success of antibody transfer are the timing of colostrum collection and feeding, and the quantity and quality of the colostrum that is consumed. Calves should receive 3-4 litres (10% of birth weight) of good quality colostrum within 2 hours of birth. Routine assessment of colostrum quality will ensure that calves are only fed the best, reducing the risk that they receive too little antibody, which leaves calves at increased risk of disease. Good quality colostrum has an IgG level of greater than 50mg/ml1 A focus on good hygiene when collecting and storing colostrum is also essential.

When a calf is born it possesses no antibodies to fight disease. Consequently, the ingestion of plenty of good quality colostrum is the key to a calf's survival.

Good colostrum intakes mean:

• Fewer scour and other disease problems (such as pneumonia, salmonellosis and ringworm)
• Reduced death rates
• Better growth rates
• Improved milk production from female dairy calves in the long term

Four short videos and guidelines will help you optimise colostrum feeding for healthier calves.

President of the British Veterinary Association John Fishwick writes about the three most important factors for good health in calves Colostrum, Colostrum, Colostrum! He says that without it, the  animal is likely to be condemned to a life of disease and ill health and may die prematurely before it can enjoy a full and productive life. Read his blog for more insights...

Ensuring that piglets receive colostrum dramatically increases their chances of survival later on in production, as well as reducing the need for antibiotics #ColostrumIsGold. Why is colostrum so important? Colostrum is the first milk that is secreted by the sow after farrowing. It is a rich source of nutrients and provides essential antibodies (immunoglobulins) that provide protection against disease causing bacteria and viruses. Piglets are born with very few of these antibodies and they can only be derived from colostrum. It is also essential for natural development including weight gain and temperature regulation making it vital for piglet survival. This handy factsheet will help you optimise your management of colostrum for the best results.

Production of High Quality Colostrum Colostrum at birth can save the use of antibiotics in the future. This factsheet identifies the key points for success.

Colostrum intake from birth to 24 h after the onset of parturition ( T24) was estimated for 526 piglets from 40 litters. Plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), lactate, glucose and cortisol were determined at T24 for six piglets per litter. Plasma IgG concentration was also assayed at weaning (28 days) on the same piglets. Rectal temperature was measured at T24 on all piglets. Mortality was recorded until weaning and comparisons were made between piglets that died before weaning and those that were still alive at weaning. The piglets that died before weaning had lower birth weight, lower colostrum intake, lower weight gain between birth and T24, and had a lower rectal temperature, higher plasma cortisol concentration and lower plasma IgG and glucose concentrations at T24 than piglets still alive at weaning. In addition, a higher proportion of piglets that died before weaning had difficulty taking their first breath after birth and were affected by splayleg. Considering all piglets, colostrum intake was positively related to rectal temperature and plasma glucose concentration and negatively related to plasma cortisol concentration at T24. Plasma IgG concentration at T24 was explained by colostrum intake, IgG concentration in the ingested colostrum, birth weight and birth rank (P,0.0001). Plasma IgG concentration at weaning was related to plasma IgG concentration at T24 (r50.54; P,0.0001) and to colostrum intake (r50.32; P,0.0001). Finally, body weight was explained by colostrum intake, birth weight and age until 6 weeks of age (P,0.0001). These results show that colostrum intake is the main determinant of piglet survival through provision of energy and immune protection and has potential long-term effects on piglet growth and immunity.

Includes studies on udder morphology and piglet teat preferences.

Download Flock Health's animation illustrating how timely and effective use of colostrum can prevent or reduce Watery Mouth.

In a survey conducted on 21 dairy farms an average pre-weaning mortality rate of 3.4% was calculated from records from January 2011-2012. The average disease incidence of pneumonia and diarrhoea was found to be 7.7% and 11.4% respectively, and a large variation in calf management practices existed between farms. westpoint veterinary group Calf health and management is an area of bovine medicine that is important for the future productivity and health of any dairy herd rearing their own replacements. Common calf diseases such as pneumonia, if experienced by a calf will not only impact its growth but also the survivability of heifers within a herd. However, calf health is not a topic that is routinely assessed, monitored and investigated unless a problem is identified. In a recent study, only 50% of vets regularly discuss calf mortality with their clients and just 10% of farmers said they discussed calf mortality with their vet routinely2. Improvement to calf health on farm requires vets and farmers to be aware of the calf rearing management practices and disease incidence. By understanding practices and performance at an individual farm level, bespoke health and disease management plans can be implemented to improve calf health and welfare.

Access a range of advice on Calf Management from AHDB. Calf Management Help Films: Colostrum Feeding Calf House Hygiene Monitoring Growth Colostrum Hygiene Testing Colostrum 3 Qs of Colostrum Management Preventing pneumonia in calves Assessing ventilation Assessing calf buildings   AHDB Dairy heifer rearing webinars: The early hours – looking after the newborn calf Cryptosporidium in calves  Best practice vaccination of beef and dairy cattle The economics of heifer rearing Is all year round calving the best option? BVD Free England scheme preview Breeding for TB resistance Heifer fertility The calf environment – getting it right   Booklets: Better calf housing Better management of BRD/pneumonia Better return from pure dairy bred male calves Calf rearing notebook

There are many factors which make up successful calf rearing practices. These factsheets look at best practice relating to multiple areas including colostrum management and hygiene, tube feeding a calf, monitoring growth, managing calves in cold and hot weather, weaning and achieving growth. Available as a series printed on paper suitable for the working environment, calf house via post or can be downloaded as either the complete set on this page, or individually from the library. https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/technical-information/youngstock/

Diarrhoea or calf scour can be a major cause of poor growth and calf mortality in many dairy herds. The incidence and severity of disease is highly dependent upon the level of colostral protection that a calf receives within the first six hours of life (Fig 1). Indeed, it is generally recommended that calves receive three litres within the first 2 hours of life. 1,2,3; first milk, within two hours, three litres! The most important causes of calf diarrhoea are rota- and corona-viruses but on a small number of dairy farms Salmonella species, such as Salmonella Dublin and Salmonella typhimurium, can be a major problem. However, it is essential to appreciate that most outbreaks of calf diarrhoea are caused by viruses. Fluid therapy is the most effective treatment strategy; antibiotics are rarely indicated and their use is contrary to the responsible use of antibiotics in agriculture. As with all animal diseases prevention is better than cure and an effective veterinary herd health plan is essential for all dairy herds to maintain health and prevent costly diseases. Effective vaccines are available against the most important infectious causes of calf diarrhoea but such a prevention strategy will only work if calves receive adequate volumes of good quality colostrum within few hours of birth, and in the case of viral causes, continue to receive stored colostrum from vaccinated cows for the first two weeks of life.

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease (readily transmitted to humans) and has been frequently reported in school children visiting open farms and petting zoos. In clinical cases of cryptosporidiosis, diarrhoea is caused by the physical loss of absorptive lining of the intestines exacerbating concurrent viral infections necessitating supportive fluid therapy and may cause significant losses.  In some instances, there is no diarrhoea despite isolation of Cryptosporidium spp. from faecal samples. Beef calves aged 14-21 days old are most commonly affected (dairy calves are most frequently reared in single pens so there is reduced risk of spread).  There is yellow/green diarrhoea with much mucus present.  There is only mild dehydration but the calf rapidly looses condition over 2-5 days and has a dull tucked-up appearance.  There is a reluctance to suck and examination of the beef cow often reveals a full udder.  Mortality may result where calves are not given oral fluids to help overcome dehydration. Diagnosis is based upon demonstration of Cryptosporidia spp oocysts on faecal smear after Giemsa stain; however, other enteropathogens may be involved in causing the diarrhoea such as rotavirus; mixed infections are common. Identification of organism in stained gut sections of post mortem material is the preferred method of confirming the role of cryptospiridia. In uncomplicated cases ensure that the calf is properly hydrated by using oral electrolyte solutions as necessary which may amount to two litres adminisitered every 6-8 hours.  Halofuginone lactate is licensed for both the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea caused by C. parvum. For prevention of diarrhoea, calves should be dosed for seven consecutive days starting within one to two days of birth.  For treatment, calves should be dosed for seven consecutive days starting within one day of the onset of diarrhoea.  Once several calves have been diagnosed and treated for cryptosporidiosis, all subsequent calves should receive prophylactic treatment with halofuginone. There is no vaccine currently available. Halofuginone lactate has a low toxicity index and the data sheet instructions must be carefully followed such as using a syringe to accurately dose calves. The disease is difficult to control. Calves should be born in a clean environment and fed three litres of colostrum within the first six hours. Reducing the number of oocysts ingested may reduce the severity of infection and allow immunity to develop.  In dairy herds, calves should be kept separate for at least the first two weeks of life with strict hygiene at feeding. Great care must be taken to avoid mechanical transmission of infection in the calf house. All calves should be isolated from healthy calves during the course of the diarrhea and for several days after recovery. Dairy calf-rearing accommodation should be vacated and cleaned out on a regular basis by practising an "all-in/all-out" management system.

Colostrum is the fuel of life and making sure you calves get enough is the cornerstone to all successful calf rearing enterprises. However, it is not as easy as you might think to succeed. Here we highlight the ‘4 Qs’ of colostrum management to ensure calves get off to the best possible start in life. Colostrum supplies essential nutrients and antibodies. As newborn calves have no protective antibodies to resist disease challenges, it is essential that these are absorbed via colostrum. If you miss out any of the following 4Qs of colostrum management then you should not be surprised to see poor health, low growth rates and high mortality in calves.

Colostrum supplements can be a useful tool in the management of colostrum feeding and will provide adequate levels of antibody passive transfer. However, there was found to be differences in serum total protein(a measure of colostral transfer) between artificial and natural colostrum.

Introduction: The calves we produce today are the cows of tomorrow. In order for these calves to achieve their full genetic potential, they must be correctly managed from birth. Initially this involves ensuring adequate passive transfer of maternal antibodies, to protect newborn calves from disease. This study aims to see if calf Total Protein level can predict subsequent daily live weight gain. Materials and Methods: 52 dairy calves across 3 different farms were blood sampled at <7 days old and Total Protein levels (TP) measured with a refractometer. These calves were subsequently weighed using an animal weigh tape to calculate daily live weight gains (DLWG). Results: Farm 1 had an average DLWG of 0.83kg/day. With an average TP of 71.5ug/l Farm 2 had a DLWG of 0.5kg/day with an average TP of 53.5ug/l Farm 3 had an average DLWG of 0.63kg/day with an average TP of 63.2ug/l Discussion: Although these results are not statistically significant, this study is ongoing and data is still being collected. Results suggest that with a higher TP level, a higher average daily live weight gain is achieved. Based on this data, a TP level >70ug/l is needed to achieve target DLWG (of 0.7kg/day).

Colostrum is secreted from the udder immediately after farrowing and within several hours its composition changes to that representing sow milk. Colostrum contains essential antibodies (immunoglobulins) for the health of the newborn piglet; antibodies are produced by the body to kill bacteria and viruses. The piglet is born with very few of the protecting antibodies necessary to thrive and relies on the sow’s colostrum to obtain them in the defence against bacteria and viruses. Colostrum is a rich source of highly digestible nutrients, which are critical to establishing the newly born piglet and studies indicate that colostrum contains natural growth factors for the normal development of vital life-sustaining organs (eg brain, heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys) and the immature gut.

An article on how Ellen Gudmestad, a sheep farmer in Norway, has changed her colostrum management regime.

This factsheet summarises the key scientific points supporting current advice for good colostrum management, and provides feeding guidelines.

Download this poster and use on dairy farms.

Download this poster and use on beef farms.

Download this poster and use on sheep farms.

Downloadable this poster and use on pig farms.

Download this leaflet about colostrum and #ColostrumIsGold. Print double sized, flip on short edge.

A persistent problem with watery mouth meant antibiotics were used as a preventative medicine in the past at David Raine’s Old Parks Farm near Penrith in Cumbria. Now, though, their use has all but been eliminated says Mr Raine, who runs 1,000 Swaledale, Mule and Bluefaced Leicester ewes as well as upland beef. “The key to this has been the quantity and quality of colostrum provided within one hour of the lamb’s birth,” he says. “To make sure there is sufficient quantity, we provide the ewe with good nutrition – plenty of energy, protein and trace elements from a home-produced ration including fodder beet,” he explains. Careful observation and diligence at lambing, monitoring ewe health and udder checks along with the use of colostrum substitutes where required, ensures that every lamb receives the colostrum it needs. All lambs are treated with iodine at birth. “If they stay housed, because of bad weather, they are navel dipped again. We have found this second dip has cut joint ill markedly. “We have virtually eliminated watery mouth and joint ill, cutting our antibiotic use to just about nil in the process,” Mr Raine adds. Even though the upland farm faces harsh weather, reducing the time that the flock is housed is key. “We are mainly outdoor lambing now with Swaledales making up three-quarters of the flock. They need minimum interference which cuts the need for any antibiotics at all.” Housing for the remainder of the flock is also minimised. “Early lambing mule ewes are brought close to the housing as lambing nears so we can keep an eye on them. Nutrition is raised to boost the ewe’s natural immunity to disease and to yield colostrum. “But they don’t come indoors until the last minute to cut the build-up of bacteria,” says Mr Raine. The farm has also introduced a week’s break in the lambing period to break the cycle of disease. The shed is cleaned out completely during this time before rebedding with plenty of straw. Beyond the lambing period, all replacement stock is vaccinated to give cover against clostridial disease and enzootic abortion. “Using a vaccine for enzootic abortion and stopping the use of preventative antibiotic treatment is a practical, and sensible thing we could all do,” says Mr Raine.

A focus on ewe health and nutrition has boosted colostrum production and enabled one Northern Ireland sheep producer to make a dramatic cut in antibiotic treatment for watery mouth in newborn lambs. Isaac Crilly from Castlederg, County Tyrone, farms just 28ha (70 acres) but achieves a lambs reared figure of almost 200% from his 400 Belclare cross New Zealand Suffolk ewes. “In the past we gave each lamb a dose (of oral antibiotic) because we thought it was the right thing to do,” says Mr Crilly. “Last year we had a bottle to hand just in case we needed it, but I’m pleased that we didn’t because we got everything else right – the ewes, their feed, colostrum and good hygiene in the shed. We just needed to be brave enough not to dose.” In stark contrast this year, just six lambs needed treatment. Mr Crilly believes that a visibly-improved colostrum quality is a major reason for the reduction in the prevalence of the disease. However, he says no single management change has brought about the change which he instead puts down to a combination of gradual improvements including better ewe nutrition, genetics and general health. Blood testing results showed that the flock was deficient in both selenium and iodine which was addressed initially using oral mineral doses combined with an overall close look at ewe nutrition. A further management tweak was made this year. “Before tupping we switched to boluses to supply the minerals and this seems to have helped boost selenium and iodine levels again,” he says. Feeding is another area which has been increasingly, tightly controlled over the years. Ewes are housed in the third week of December, well ahead of lambing in March to allow more control over feed intake and condition scores. Silage making was ditched on the farm because of the time, cost and potential variability in quality. Instead, at housing, ewes are fed a diet of soya hull - which provides about 10.5-11% protein - and straw for roughage. The protein content of the diet is gradually increased from scanning in January until lambing. After the ewes are scanned soyabean is introduced to the hull and straw at a rate of 135kg per tonne of the mix, along with sheep minerals. The soyabean has a high protein rate of about 19% and the inclusion rate rises to 190kg/tonne of feed in the weeks immediately prior to lambing. Careful attention is paid at feeding time to allow every ewe to have good access to troughs. “The Belclare ewe is quite large at 75-80kg but we make sure every ewe has enough space to get the food without having to fight for it,” Mr Crilly says. All ewes arrive at lambing at a condition score of 3.5-4, he says. That condition score is rigorously applied right across the flock of 400 with the lowest 3.5 and the highest 4. “The ewe is extremely fit at lambing and the high protein content of the diet means she has an abundance of colostrum.” Mr Crilly says the process has been made easier because the Belclare/NZ Suffolk cross produces lambs with a high vigour. “I’m sure the get-up-and-go of the breed helps to get the colostrum in within the first few minutes and hours after birth.” The ewe and her lamb are moved to individual pens to ensure the colostrum is readily available in the crucial first six hours. The pens also have a mesh floor to make them easier to clean and so reduce the chance of disease build-up. Ewes and lambs are turned out as quickly as possible post-lambing and the pens are washed and disinfected thoroughly.

Peter Baber farms at Weir Park Farm, near Christow in Devon, running 1100 ewes and ewe lambs comprising a combination of Exlana, Suffolk, Texel and SufTex breeds. Although he has never used antibiotics routinely, he says he is using less and less because of refining his management strategy to prevent disease. Mr Baber uses a whole-flock management approach which involves constant revision and improvement of all aspects from genetics to nutrition and simple husbandry measures. Exlanas make up two thirds of the flock and are lambed outdoors. The remaining Suffolk and Texel ewes are housed at lambing. Indoors, hygiene, careful nutrition to ensure colostrum production and checking all lambs have sucked has proved the key to cutting watery mouth and reducing antibiotics. The shed is kept clean using a lot of straw. A rule of thumb – or perhaps, rule of knee – is that Mr Baber keeps the pens clean and dry enough to kneel down without having to wear waterproof leggings. “If my knees are dry, I know the lambs are being kept clean,” he says. Ewe nutrition is managed to ensure there is sufficient colostrum. At lambing a rigorously applied scoring system is used to provide management information as each lamb is born. Scoring system - Lamb vigour - Ease of lambing - Ewe colostrum production - Lamb size Any poor scores mean the ewe is culled to improve flock genetics. Mr Baber has also reduced antibiotic use for lameness. He targeted footrot 15 years ago using the five-point plan. The 'secret' is to reduce the footrot challenge by removing the persistent offenders and treating the ‘one-off’ cases rapidly.  

Simplifying and speeding up the job of thawing colostrum has resulted in improved consistency, reduced calf mortality and improved immunity on one Powys dairy farm.

Colostrum is vital to the newborn calf as it contains antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins or IgG) to provide immunity and it is also rich in essential nutrients to provide energy for growth.

 

Contamination during collection, transfer or feeding puts the calf at risk by introducing harmful bacteria when the calf has no active immunity to fight infection. Protect against this risk with the help of this video.

Testing colostrum is an important task that should be completed at every collection. The test results help you to make an informed decision as to whether the colostrum is good enough to be fed or stored, or needs to be discarded

Kate Johnson's presentation at the 2013 calf health and welfare workshop, including effective colostrum management.

AHDB (Dairy and Beef & Lamb) hosted a webinar on 23 Sept 2015 with Kat Bazeley, Veterinary Surgeon with Synergy Farm Health looking at the importance of the early hours of a calf's life.

Welsh sheep farmer Arwyn Jones and his vet Kate Hovers describe how a Farming Connect project has helped identify ways to reduce antibiotic use on-farm through better colostrum management.

Proper care of newborn calves is critical for their long term health and survival. Ideally the calf should suckle sufficient quantities of colostrum. If a calf is unable to suckle a bottle, or consume the full amount of colostrum, then a stomach tube should be used.

Webinar discussing how to use antibiotics responsibly at lambing including good colostrum management, with specialist sheep vet Dr Fiona Lovatt.

The 14 minute film covers areas such as: Colostrum management;  Nutritional scours; Antibiotics in milk; BVD - can we can live with this, or does it need to be top priority?

This film brings together the key messages from the AHDB Calf to Calving programme, using interviews from host farmers and meeting attendees. It focuses on areas including colostrum testing, regular weighing, planning, vaccination, protocols and attention to detail. The video also features top tips for calf rearing.

Cryptosporidium in young calves can impact the animal not just during the time it is infected but throughout its growing period. Understanding the routes of infection and the role that management has to play in minimising risks are covered in this webinar with Dr Beth Wells of Moredun Research Institute.

This video explains how people have been collecting colostrum from different animals but particularly sheep for feeding to newborn lambs.

Some handy hints and tips on storing and thawing colostrum from Pyon