Key of Survival in Calves; “Colostrum”

Successful milk production is based on proper calf rearing. High calf mortality is an important problem of economic loss in production. Postnatal survival rate is very important in the determination of the adaptation of newborns to the environmental conditions and the profitability of the enterprises. The most important factor in dairy calf health and survival is feeding the newborn adequate amounts of high-quality colostrum early in its life. An important strategy for newborn receives adequate colostrum during the first two to three hours of life. Colostrum is produced during a distinct physiological and functional stage of mammary gland development and differs markedly from normal milk. A neonate is born with low body energy stores and devoid of serum immunoglobulins. Colostrum provides the neonates with both energy and maternal antibodies. Traditional milk feeding systems for dairy calves - 8 to 10% of birth weight. Today, calf mortality is now considered the most crucial indicator of welfare level; it was an important indicator of management quality.