Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we bring
you cutting -edge insights for progressive dairy
producers. Today we're diving into a game -changing
approach to calf nutrition that could add $500
per heifer to your bottom line. Are you discarding
liquid gold after that first colostrum feeding?
Groundbreaking research from Dr. Michael Steele
at the University of Guelph is challenging conventional
wisdom about how we feed our calves. In the next
20 minutes, you'll discover why transition milk
holds untapped value, how extended colostrum
feeding dramatically reduces treatment costs,
and why leading operations are seeing substantial
returns on this simple protocol change. Whether
you're managing 50 calves or 5 ,000, Science
-backed strategies you can implement immediately.
So grab your notebook. You won't want to miss
these profit -enhancing insights from the bullvine.
Hey, you know that feeling when you realize you've
been overlooking something? Something super obvious?
Maybe something that could be adding real cash
to your bottom line. Yeah, happens to the best
of us. Well, get ready for maybe one of those
moments today. We're plunging into what some
are calling liquid gold. That's right, colostrum.
Good old colostrum. But we're not just talking
about that first feeding everyone knows about.
Nope. We're looking at how extending its use,
how that could potentially boost your profit
by, well, maybe as much as $500 per heifer. That's
a number that gets your attention, right? Definitely.
So think about your current calf feeding routine
for just a second. Could you be unintentionally
letting a valuable resource and, frankly, serious
money just slip away? It's a fair question. And
that's exactly what we're here to explore today.
We're doing a deep dive. Exactly. And look, this
isn't some trendy new additive or, you know,
flash in the pan idea. We've really dug deep
into some groundbreaking research. The kind of
stuff coming out of places like Gulf. Precisely.
Worked by experts like Dr. Michael Steele there.
It really makes you rethink those long -held
beliefs about feeding newborn calves. So what's
the mission today? Simple. Really. Our mission
in this deep dive is crystal clear. Unpack the
science, uncover the potential, which seems surprisingly
large, of feeding colostrum for longer. Longer
than just that first day or so. Moving beyond
just immunity. Way beyond just that initial passive
immunity shot. We're getting into its much broader
impact on the lifetime performance of your dairy
heifers. Okay, so let's dive right in. This paradigm
shift the researchers are talking about. For
ages, it felt like the whole focus with colostrum
was just laser focused on antibodies, right?
Absolutely. Get a couple of cords in them, ASAP,
make sure the IgG is high. And then pretty much
straight to milk or replacer. Done. Done. Exactly.
But the thinking on this is really evolving.
It's not just about those initial antibodies
anymore for your operation. So the benefits go
further. Precisely. The scientific community
is increasingly recognizing that the advantages,
they stretch far beyond just passive immunity.
We're talking about a whole cascade of benefits.
Like what specifically? Things influencing how
their gut develops, their overall growth trajectory,
and yeah, ultimately how productive they'll be
for you down the road in the milking parlor.
So that traditional short duration approach.
it might be missing something. Looks like it.
While it's absolutely vital for getting those
first antibodies in, nobody's arguing that it
seems like it might actually be causing us to
miss out on a really significant opportunity,
an opportunity to positively shape that calf's
future. And Dr. Steele's analogy, the one about
the ball rolling down a hill, that kind of sticks
with you. It really does, doesn't it? Yeah. He
basically says the nutrition and care in those
very early weeks, they set the entire course
for that animal's productive life with you. It's
not just about survival for the first few days.
Not at all. It's about setting them up for long
-term success in your milking string. It's like
building the foundation for a skyscraper. A strong
foundation means a stronger building. Exactly.
If that foundation is solid, well -nourished,
the whole structure is stronger, more resilient
for years. And it turns out a cornerstone of
that foundation is what we're feeding them right
at the start. specifically those unique components
in colostrum. Okay, so beyond the famous antibodies,
what is in colostrum that makes it so darn special
for your calves? What's the actual science saying
about why extended feeding could be so good?
Well, you stack up colostrum against regular
milk and nutritionally, dramatically different,
just loaded with a really unique cocktail of...
peptides, carbohydrates, fatty acids, things
you just don't see in those high concentrations
later on. But it's more than just basic nutrition.
Oh, much deeper. Colostrum is like this super
cocktail of immune system boosters. Think cytokines,
communication molecules for the immune system,
various hormones that help development, and a
really impressive lineup of vitamins and minerals.
Bioactive compounds, they call them. That's the
term, yeah. These bioactive compounds play a
crucial role. establishing a healthy gut environment
for your calves, helping build a strong intestinal
lining, essentially programming their systems
for efficient growth and function. So it's not
just calories, it's signaling molecules too.
Spot on. It's all these signaling molecules and
developmental factors doing their magic. Which
brings us neatly to transition milk, that stuff
we often, well, maybe don't appreciate enough.
Definitely underappreciated. We tend to think
of it as just milk, the stuff after the real
colostrum. But the data, it tells a very different
story for you. How different are we talking?
The data on how milk composition changes across
those first four milkings, it's really eye -opening.
Looking at the research, you see that big drop
in IgG, right? First milking is packed maybe
94 grams per liter, give or take. Yeah, that's
the gold standard. But here's the real kicker
for you. Even in the second milking, the IgG
level is still remarkably high. It's hanging
in there at about 39 grams per liter. 39. That's
still way higher than regular milk, isn't it?
Significantly higher. You're talking about a
concentration of crucial antibodies that's still
very potent. Makes you think about Dr. Back's
quote, doesn't it? Calling discarding transition
milk a downright waste. It really hits home when
you see numbers like that. Nearly 40 grams per
liter of protective immunoglobulins your calves
need, and we often just dump it. Feels almost
wrong. It really does. And it's not just the
IgG either. Look at the other stuff in the research,
total solids, protein content. Even by the fourth
milking, these are still elevated compared to
mature milk. So you're throwing away nutrients.
Essentially, yeah. A nutrient -dense liquid that
could be giving significant ongoing benefits
to your calves for growth, for development. Okay,
so what happens when you do put this into practice
on your farm? What does the research actually
show about the impact of extending that colostrum
feeding period for you? Well, the work Dr. Steele
and his team did up at golf has been really pivotal,
really showing the way forward. They looked at
a couple of main approaches. How were they? One
was giving calves 50 % colostrum for the first
two days. The other was including 10 % colostrum
in their diet, but for a full 14 days. And the
results? Were they good? The results they saw
were pretty consistent and really encouraging
for producers. They saw a clear reduction in
both diarrhea cases. Bowers, yeah. Big problem.
Big problem. And also lower overall mortality
rates in the groups getting the extended colostrum.
Plus, these calves showed improved growth rates
at certain key points in their development. And
it wasn't just about survival and growth, was
it? I think I read something about gut health,
too. Exactly. The research indicated that extending
colostrum feeding helped reduce gut permeability.
Think of it like making the intestinal lining
stronger, less... Leaky. Which is good for preventing
nasty stuff getting into the bloodstream. Precisely.
They also saw positive effects on how their bodies
handled insulin, which could have long -term
implications for nutrient use efficiency throughout
their lives for you. And this isn't just one
study saying this. No. Other research backs this
up too. For instance, one study used a 50 -50
mix of whole milk and colostrum for a couple
of days. Showed better intestinal development,
higher overall IgG levels in the blood, lower
mortality risk. Okay. Another one used a 90 -10
mix of milk and a colostrum replacer for two
weeks. Also reported higher body weights, better
average daily gain, ADG, and fewer deaths. The
evidence really seems to be stacking up for you.
All right, let's pause for a sec. Make sure everyone
listening is tracking with some key terms we
keep throwing around. IgG, we've mentioned it
a lot. Quick refresher on what it is and why
it's so vital for your calves. Certainly. IgG,
short for immunoglobulin G, it's a main antibody
type, super concentrated in colostrum. Think
of it as the first line of defense for your newborns,
provides that crucial initial or passive immunity.
How does it work? When a calf gets enough good
quality colostrum, these IgG antibodies get absorbed
right into their bloodstream. offers protection
against a whole bunch of nasty pathogens. And
there's a target level, right? Yeah. You generally
want to aim for a blood serum IgG concentration
over 10 grams per liter. Calves hitting that
mark, successful passive transfer, we call it
they're significantly less likely to get sick,
much better shot at survival for you. Got it.
And then transition milk, we touched on it, but
just to be crystal clear. Right. Transition milk
is simply the milk your cows produce in the milkings
right after that first super concentrated colostrum,
usually milkings two through, say, eight. And
the key takeaway? As we saw in the research,
it still packs a punch. Higher levels of beneficial
stuff in immunoglobulins, other valuable nutrients
compared to mature milk, makes it a really useful
resource for your young calves. Don't waste it.
Okay. And these bioactive compounds, what are
they actually doing for your calves? Bioactive
compounds. They're essentially non -nutritive
components in colostrum that have specific biological
effects. Things like growth factors helping the
gut develop properly, antimicrobial peptides
fighting off bad bacteria, oligosaccharides acting
like prebiotics, feeding the good gut bugs. So
more than just energy and protein. Way more.
Yeah. They actively contribute to your calves'
health and development in some really fundamental
ways. Right. And one last one, FTCM. Sounds a
bit technical. Why should you care about that?
FPCM stands for fat and protein corrected milk.
It's basically a standardized way to measure
milk production. It accounts for differences
in fat and protein content. Why standardized?
It allows for a fairer comparison of milk yields
between different cows, or in this case, between
different feeding programs that might affect
milk composition later on for you, levels the
playing field when looking at production data.
Now this is fascinating. Colostrum isn't just
about preventing illness in your calves. It can
actually be a tool to help them recover when
they do get sick. Absolutely. That University
of Gulf research really highlights this potential
benefit for you. They look at calves with diarrhea
scours. Compared to control group to calves getting
a 50 -50 mix of milk replacer and colostrum replacer.
For how long? Either two days or a longer period
of four days. And the results? Pretty striking.
What did they find? The calves getting the extended
colostrum therapy, the four -day treatment, they
actually recovered from diarrhea faster than
the other groups. And here's the really important
part for your bottom line. Go on. They also showed
higher average daily weight gain during that
recovery period. That's huge. Because usually
sickness means a growth slump, right? Which can
mess things up long -term for you. Exactly. A
setback like that can have knock -on effects.
But it sounds like that extended colostrum helped
keep them on track. growth -wise. So Dr. Steele's
point holds up. Totally. As he pointed out, it's
not just about clearing the illness. It's about
maintaining that crucial growth trajectory, even
through health challenges. And this wasn't just
a small finding either. Other studies confirmed
it. Yeah. A larger study with 144 heifers found
significantly lower diarrhea rates in calves
getting extra colostrum. And another one giving
700 grams of colostrum and 5 kilos of milk daily
for 14 days showed a whole host of benefits for
you. Greater weaning weight? higher final body
weight, better feed efficiency, superior ADG
overall, and fewer days dealing with common issues,
fever, poor appearance, diarrhea, pneumonia.
It really underscores colostrum's power for supporting
overall calf health. Okay, now, I know some folks
listening might be thinking, hmm, interesting,
but... Changing my program. There are always
those common beliefs, those hurdles. Oh, definitely.
There are some ingrained ideas that might be
holding producers back from trying this on their
own farms. Let's tackle them. What's misconception
number one? The big one. Probably cost. The thought
that feeding extra colostrum is just going to
be too expensive for you. And the counter argument.
The reality, based on Cornell research, is that
for every single dollar you invest in improving
calf nutrition, you can actually see about a
$4 return down the line. $4 back for every $1
spent. Yep. In terms of increased lifetime milk
production, lower health costs. And remember
that underutilized transition milk, extra first
milking colostrum, that's already a resource
you have on hand. You've produced it. It's just
about using it smarter for better returns. Makes
sense. What's another common concern you hear?
Time. Labor. That's the second big one, yeah.
Feeling like a more complex feeding protocol
will add a ton of extra work to already packed
days. Producers are stretched thin. Adding more
steps seems daunting. But is it really that much
extra work? Farms that have actually done a report,
it only adds about, say, five to ten minutes
of extra daily labor preparing the supplemental
feeds. Okay, five, ten minutes. Now weigh that
against the time you spend treating sick calves.
That can easily be 30 minutes or more per day,
right? Plus the medication costs. That small
upfront time investment starts looking much more
manageable and probably more cost effective for
you long term. Absolutely. Prevention versus
cure. What about seeing actual results? Is it
measurable? Does it hit the bottom line? The
data from numerous university studies shows really
clear quantifiable improvements you can expect.
Give me some numbers. Okay. Things like a $15
to $25 reduction in treatment costs per calf.
A 5 to 7 % improvement in calf survival rates.
Fewer deaths. An 80 to 150 gram per day increase
in average daily gain. ADG is key. It really
is. And maybe most significantly long term. An
increase of 500 to 1 ,000 pounds of milk in that
crucial first lactation. Wow. Those aren't small
changes. Those are substantial returns that can
really move the needle on profitability for you.
Exactly. And the last big hurdle I often hear,
storage. Storing all that extra colostrum seems
like a logistical challenge for some farms. It's
a valid point for you. But again, look at the
economics. Even smaller operations can often
justify putting in dedicated freezer space. How
much are we talking? A standard chest freezer,
maybe a modest upfront cost, can typically hold
enough colostrum for 30, maybe 40 calves. That's
a one -time investment delivering ongoing returns
with every calf you raise. Plus, there are other
practical methods, refrigeration short -term,
commercial preservatives. We can get into those.
Okay, good. Now let's switch gears slightly.
Weaning. It sounds like when you take calves
off liquid feed is also a really critical decision
tied into this whole early nutrition discussion.
It absolutely is for you. Dr. Steele makes a
really compelling point. He emphasizes the number
one thing to remember is that weaning later is
generally better. That kind of goes against the
grain sometimes, doesn't it? Trying to wean early
to save on feed costs. It can, yeah. That traditional
mindset. I know lots of farms aim for six weeks,
almost religiously. But Dr. Steele's training
wheels analogy. That really paints a picture
of why that might be too soon for many of your
calves. It's a great analogy for you, isn't it?
He likens weaning a calf at six weeks, especially
if their starter intake isn't solid yet, to taking
training wheels off a bike before the kid can
really pedal and balance alone. So physiologically,
they might not be ready. Often, yeah. Economically
speaking, cags under eight weeks often aren't
ready for complete weaning, especially if they've
been on higher nutrition planes with extended
colostrum. Their digestive systems are still
maturing. Starter intake can be inconsistent.
Push them too early, you risk growth slumps.
And those slumps can have lasting negative impacts
on performance down the line for you. Exactly.
So instead of just picking an age, six weeks,
eight weeks, what should you be looking at to
decide when to wean your calves? Progressive
producers get this. The decision should be based
on consistent, adequate starter intake by each
individual calf. not just a date on the calendar
for you. So watch the calf, not the clock. Pretty
much. The goal is ensuring each calf eats enough
solid feed to keep growing once the liquid feed
stops. Let them develop more fully before weaning.
You're setting them up for better, more consistent
growth, better long -term productivity. Leading
to heifers calving at that target age, 22 -24
months, ready to hit their potential. That's
the aim. And those long -term milk yield gains,
they likely far outweigh any perceived short
-term savings from weaning too early. OK, so
if you're listening and thinking, right, the
benefits seem clear. I want to do this for my
operation. What are the practical ways? How can
you actually make extended colostrum feeding
happen on your farm? What are the options? There
are really three main practical approaches you
can consider. First, as we've discussed, just
make better use of that valuable transition milk,
milkings two through eight, roughly, instead
of dumping it. Use what you already have. Exactly.
Second option, actively supplement their regular
feed milk replacer or whole milk with actual
first milking colostrum. Boost the concentration
of those beneficial compounds for longer. And
the third? Third approach is using a commercial
colostrum replacer. Incorporate that into their
liquid diet. This can be really handy if you
don't have enough good maternal colostrum, or
maybe if you have disease transmission concerns
in your herd. And these are all realistic, implementable
on your farm with the right setup. Absolutely.
The key for you is setting up a straightforward
system. Collection, proper storage, consistent
feeding. And preserving it. You mentioned temperature
and preservatives. Yeah. Low temperatures, refrigeration,
and freezing are crucial. And certain preservatives,
like potassium sorbate, can also be effective
tools to maintain quality for extended feeding
on your farm. Okay, let's get into the real nitty
-gritty now for our listeners. What about the
real -world challenges you might hit trying to
implement this? And more importantly, what are
the research -backed, practical solutions you
can use? Let's start with collecting and storing
all that extra colostrum. Logistics. Yeah, valid
concern for you. Nobody wants extra hassle. The
University of Minnesota Extension suggests a
simple but effective color -coded labeling system.
It makes identifying milk from different milkings
quick and easy. Smart. What about storage duration?
Refrigeration is good short -term, maybe up to
a week. For longer storage, freezing is excellent.
Use convenient one or two quart containers. It
can preserve colostrum for up to a year if you
do it right. And if you need longer refrigerated
life? There are commercial colostrum preservatives
available, often contain potassium sorbate. They
can keep it usable for up to maybe two weeks
under refrigeration. Gives you more flexibility.
That color coding sounds brilliant for keeping
things straight for you. Okay, what about the
extra labor? The actual feeding process with
these extended protocols? Penn State research
looks specifically at this for you. They suggest
batch preparation can really streamline things.
Batch prep? How does that work? Well, say your
goal is 10 % colostrum inclusion. You could mix
one part colostrum with nine parts milk replacer
in a dedicated container each morning. Then use
that pre -mixed solution for all the feedings
that day for your calves. And the time commitment?
Their findings indicated this kind of batch prep
only adds about five to ten minutes extra time
daily. Which, like we said, is probably way less
time than you're spending treating sick calves
right now. Good point. Okay, final big challenge.
Disease transmission risk. Especially if you're
pooling colostrum. Big concern for many producers.
What practical steps can you take to manage those
biosecurity risks effectively? Biosecurity is
absolutely paramount for you. No question. If
you're considering pooled colostrum, especially
if certain diseases are a worry in your herd,
Heat treatment is a very effective tool. Pasteurization.
Exactly. Pasteurizing pooled colostrum at 60
degrees Celsius, that's 140 Fahrenheit, for 60
minutes. It's been shown, scientifically, to
significantly knock down many common calf pathogens.
Importantly, it does this while still preserving
most of the vital IgG antibodies. And if pasteurization
isn't an option, or you want more certainty?
For higher risk herds, or just for extra peace
of mind, using high quality commercial colostrum
replacers is a very viable alternative for you.
They completely eliminate the risk of transmitting
diseases that might be lurking in maternal colostrum.
So before you even think about pooling colostrum
on your farm, it sounds like job number one is
a really honest look at your herd's current disease
status. Crucial first step for you. Absolutely.
What specific bugs should you be particularly
mindful of when considering pooling? If you're
pooling, you need to be especially aware of potentially
transmitting things like John's disease, mycoplasma
salmonella, among others. They can all be present
in colostrum from infected cows. Could unfortunately
pass to your calves if you're not careful. So
the mitigation strategies, again, are... Proper
pasteurization is key. Many forward -thinking
dairies have invested in on -farm pasteurizers
for exactly this reason. And again, for those
who want zero risk from pooled maternal colostrum,
high -quality commercial replacers are a reliable...
disease -free alternative for your calves. It's
just so important for you to remember this pre
-weaning period. It's not just maintenance, right?
Not just keeping calves alive until they eat
solid feed. It's truly a critical window for
setting up their entire productive life in your
herd. Absolutely. For too long, the focus has
often been minimizing cost in this early stage.
But the science now clearly shows you higher
plans of nutrition in those first eight weeks.
It has a direct, significant positive correlation
with enhanced milk production later on. First
lactation and beyond. Dr. Steele's quote about
missing out. Yeah, he put it bluntly. If you
are not feeding high levels of milk in the first
four weeks of life, you are definitely missing
out on significant growth potential in your calves.
Research consistently shows you higher ADG early
on has a lasting beneficial impact on future
milk yields. overall productivity. And we're
not just talking tiny gains here for you, are
we? That True Nutrition Life Start program research
really highlighted some potentially significant
improvements in future milk checks. That study
is a fantastic real -world example for you. It
shows the profound long -term impact early nutrition
can have. They compared groups. One got higher
nutrition, 8 liters of milk daily. Control got
the conventional 4 liters. And the difference.
Kaz and the Life Start group had significantly
higher ADG pre -weaning. And when they followed
those heifers into first lactation, the LifeStart
group produced nearly a kilo more fat and protein
-corrected milk per day, plus higher fat production.
Wow, did it last. Interestingly, yes. Benefits
extended into the second lactation, too. Those
animals still showed higher fat -corrected milk
production and significantly higher actual fat
yields. These are real competitive advantages
for you. They add up across your whole herd.
Seeing research results is one thing, but hearing
about it working on actual commercial farms,
that always hits different. That Riverview dairy
case study from Minnesota seems like a really
compelling example for you. Ed Malenka's experience
there, it's a fantastic illustration of the practical
benefits you can achieve. He admitted he was
initially skeptical, you know, felt they already
had a pretty good calf program. But they tried
it anyway. They implemented a 14 -day colostrum
supplementation protocol back in 2022. And the
results. Yeah. Undeniable for them. What changed?
Dramatic decrease in scour treatment rates, significant
increase in calf ADG, substantial drop in treatment
cost per calf, and a noticeable reduction in
labor needed for sick calves. What impressed
him most? He was really struck by how quickly
they recouped their investment in a dedicated
freezer for colostrum. Said it paid for itself
within the first month just from savings on treatment
costs. Incredible ROI. Yeah. They've even expanded
their protocol now. Use colostrum therapy proactively
for calves showing early scour signs. Allow them
to significantly cut their overall antibiotic
use too. That's a massive win on so many levels
for you. Healthier calves, lower med costs, less
time on sick animals, more sustainable with fewer
antibiotics. Okay, so for producers listening
right now thinking, all right, sounds promising,
but where do I even start? What's your top five
step action plan? Okay, start with foundations,
then build. One. Maximize that first colostrum
feeding impact. Absolutely ensure every calf
gets 10 -15 % of its body weight in high -quality
colostrum within those critical first 12 hours.
Non -negotiable first step for immunity. Step
2. 2. Actively implement extended colostrum feeding.
Choose your protocol. 50 % colostrum for days
2 -3? Or our 10 % inclusion for 14 days? GELF
research backs both for reducing sickness, boosting
growth. 3. Consider proactive colostrum therapy.
That 50 -50 milk -colostrum mix for four days,
eight feedings for any calves showing digestive
upset. Helps them bounce back faster. Minimizes
growth setbacks. Fourth step. Four. Individualize
weaning. Don't just use the calendar. Monitor
starter intake. Only wean when they're consistently
eating enough solid feed to maintain growth.
Let the calf guide you, not the date. And finally,
step five. Five. Get your preservation system
solid. Reliable way to handle your valuable colostrum.
refrigeration short -term, freezing long -term,
or approved preservatives. Maintain that quality
for extended feeding. Remember what Dr. Heinrichs
from Penn State said? Remind me. The most expensive
feed you'll ever give a calf is the feed you
don't give them in those critical first two months
of life. It's hard, right? It's a really clear,
actionable plan. For those eager beavers ready
to start right now, what are three immediate
concrete steps they can take today? All right,
three things you can do right now to move in
this more profitable direction for your operation.
First, this morning, order your storage supplies.
If you need a freezer, get it ordered. Get freezer
bags or containers, markers, labels, maybe $600,
$800 initial investment for a decent freezer.
Okay, supplies first, second. Second, starting
tomorrow, make it standard practice to collect
and carefully store transition milk. At least
the first eight milkings post calving. Label
each batch clearly milking number and refrigerate
it. Don't dump it. Start capturing that value
immediately from a resource you already produce.
Makes sense. And third. Third, this week, prioritize
scheduling a dedicated meeting. Get your key
advisors together, vet, nutritionist, calf manager,
whoever's involved. Specifically, discuss and
start customizing an extended colostrum protocol
that fits your dairy's unique situation. And
to help folks visualize rolling this out, what's
a realistic implementation timeline look like?
Phased approach. Yeah, a phased approach makes
sense for your farm. Week one, focus on setting
up that robust collection and storage system.
Protocols for ID, testing, storage. Nail those
down. Weeks two and three. Begin phase one implementation.
Good starting point for many is supplemental
colostrum for days two and three post -birth.
Often easier than jumping straight to 14 days.
Weeks four to six. Add in proactive colostrum
therapy. Train your team to spot early signs
of digestive issues and implement the treatment
protocol correctly. Then weeks 7 to 12. Gradually
expand to the full 14 -day extended feeding protocol
for all newborns. Give your team time to adjust.
And ongoing after week 12. Critically important.
Regularly analyze results. Review calf health
records meticulously. Track growth data. Evaluate
financial metrics. Use that data to continuously
fine -tune your protocol. Optimize your overall
calf program for maximum efficiency and profit.
It really feels like the science of early calf
nutrition is at an exciting point for you. Moving
beyond old habits, embracing research for better
health and productivity in your future herd.
Absolutely. The choice for you is getting clearer.
either proactively embrace these scientifically
validated protocols consistently shown to maximize
heifer lifetime performance or risk getting left
behind. Other progressive producers are adopting
these advantages, seeing the improvements on
their bottom line. That ball rolling down the
hill analogy again. It's so pertinent here for
you. Early nutrition decisions set the trajectory
for their whole productive life and ultimately
contribute to the long -term financial security,
the resilience of your dairy operation, the evidence
from Gulf, other top institutions. It's undeniable.
Forward -thinking producers are already seeing
the returns on this relatively simple investment
in their future. Okay, let's bring it all together
and make sure these key insights really stick
with you. Recap those crucial takeaways one last
time. Certainly. Remember the value of transition
milk for you. Even milking two is packed with
way more IgG than regular milk, yet often discarded.
Don't waste it. Protocol options. You have clear,
research -backed options. 50 % colostrum for
2 -3 days or 10 % inclusion for 14 days. Both
show real benefits. Pick what works best for
your system. Disease management. Extended colostrum
isn't just prevention. It's a powerful tool for
actively managing disease, supporting recovery
when calves do get sick. Implementation complexity.
It doesn't require a massive overhaul or huge
capital. Often just basic infrastructure, a few
extra minutes daily in your feeding routine.
Pays dividends. And the big picture. Always keep
the long -term profitability in mind for you.
Early investments in optimized calf nutrition
deliver measurable, significant improvements
in milk production over multiple lactations.
Contributes directly to your farm's financial
success. And for the executive summary for you
listening, the bottom line boils down to this.
Traditional calf feeding practices. Probably
limiting your profitability? Likely, yes. Embracing
extended colostrum feeding using either of those
research -backed protocols can significantly
cut disease rates, boost ADG in those critical
early weeks, and lead to a notable increase in
first lactation milk, maybe 500 to 1 ,000 pounds
more per heifer. That's the potential. The extra
labor, minimal, maybe 5, 10 minutes daily, and
the return on investment. Substantial. Potentially
adding around $500 per heifer to your bottom
line. Exactly. By focusing on optimizing early
calf nutrition, thoughtfully implementing these
strategies, you're not just raising healthier
young stock. You're actively unlocking significant
sustainable economic potential for your dairy's
entire future. So we really encourage you, take
those first actionable steps we outlined today.
Order the storage supplies, start collecting
that valuable transition milk, schedule that
planning meeting with your team this week. Get
the ball rolling. Don't wait. And finally, we'll
leave you with this thought to really chew on.
Consider just how fully optimizing those first
few weeks of a heifer's life, maximizing the
power of extended colostrum feeding could fundamentally
reshape the long -term profitability and the
overall resilience of your entire dairy operation
for years to come. It's so much more than just
feeding calves. It's a strategic investment in
your farm's future success. That wraps up our
discussion on revolutionary colostrum protocols.
Remember those key takeaways. Transition milk
through the fourth milking. contains valuable
nutrients you might be discarding. Implementing
extended feeding requires minimal additional
labor but delivers substantial returns. And progressive
producers are already gaining competitive advantages
with these methods. We encourage you to start
with just one simple change this week. Begin
collecting and storing that transition milk rather
than discarding it. Small steps lead to significant
profits. If you found value in today's episode,
Please subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast wherever
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for the full article with implementation guides
and research citations. Thanks for joining us
for The Bullvine Podcast, where science meets
profitability. Until next time, keep innovating
in those bonds.