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How much colostrum does a newborn calf need?

Last Updated: February 26, 2008

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As a general rule of thumb, a calf should receive 5 to 6 percent of its body weight as colostrum within the first 6 hours of life. That same amount should be fed again when the calf is about 12 hours old. Colostrum weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon. For an 80-pound calf, this equates to approximately 2 quarts (4 pounds) of colostrum per feeding.

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