By one hour after birth, for small calves, 1 quart to 1.5 quarts of colostrum. For a premature calf, target the 1 quart amount. Then repeat this amount of colostrum at 12 hours post-birth. It is critical to get colostrum into the calf soon after birth if it doesn’t get it from the dam. The ability of the calf to absorb the colostrum is greatly reduced after 24 hours of birth. The calf's anatomy is such that its small intestine is very "porous" and the immunoglobulins are readily absorbed. After 24 hours, the digestive system becomes less porous.
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How much colostrum does a premature calf need, and how long do we need to give it to him?
Last Updated: March 06, 2008
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