Milk or commercial milk replacer blends are the most expensive components in fi nal costs of calves breeding. Colostrum is available and it is the appropriate sources for calves' nutrition

Efficient handling programs that provide high quality colostrum in adequate amounts

Colostrum silage is an anaerobic fermentation methodology of excess farm colostrum used to conserve and provide as milk replacement for calves. The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of immunoglobulins present in bovine colostrum silage and its absorption by newborn calves. The concentration of immunoglobulins was determined in fresh colostrum and colostrum silage stored for 12 months. The absorption of immunoglobulins by calves was assessed immediately after birth and 24 h after colostrum silage intake. The immunoglobulin levels were evaluated by ELISA. The results highlighted that colostrum silage kept similar levels of immunoglobulins as the ones in colostrum in natura, and can be transferred to newborn calves with similar amounts to calves fed with colostrum in natura. It is concluded that colostrum silage keeps viable immunoglobulins, and is able to transfer passive immunity to newborn calves.

No abstract

One sixth of the world population is starving. In the meantime, producers from all over the world daily disdain billions of liters of bovine colostrum, which is seen as rich in nutrients, immunoglobulin and bioactive substances. The milk is the most expensive component in the final costs of calves breeding. Considering the impossibility of substituting the milk to feed the calf, different ways to use the colostrum have been studied however with controversial results. We have developed colostrum silage. This product is economical and possible to store in the environment for up to eighteen months. Being efficient for calf breeding, yielding income and profit to the dairy business. The colostrum silage keeps the necessary physicochemical characteristics for the development of the calves. Calves fed with this product had a significant higher weight gain comparing to the ones fed with milk. Then the milk can be used for human consumption.