Fake Colostrum Recipe for kidding and calf season

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My most valuable issue of Countryside (Vol. 73, March-April 1989) had a recipe for fake colostrum for baby goats. This is a great recipe to keep on hand since we are getting into kidding/calving season.

I've used this on weak calves and it has saved their lives. Ideally, the calf should stand to nurse within an hour. Let nature take its course if possible, but if a calf does not get that first milk in a day or two it will probably not live past three days. Here's the recipe:

3 cups warm milk

1 beaten egg

1 tsp cod liver oil (I used mineral oil, that's all I had)

1 T sugar (I use honey)

We have beef cows and it's not so easy to milk these cows as it is goats or dairy cows. My first experience with a listless calf, I got the cow and calf in a confined area and milked the cow and it did not go too bad, she did not take my head off. (I am a little older now and believe me, I will NEVER do this again!!!).....separation anxiety or something when you're between mom and baby. Anyway, mom had no milk, maybe 1/4 cup, that wasn't enough. So, I used this recipe with about a quart of warm dairy milk and tube fed the calf, it was so weak. It did stand the next day, that was a blessing, mom took over.

Last year a calf fooled me because she was always standing but her flanks were bowed in terrible. I waited too long to do something, (it was getting past day 3). I had to use the tube bottle feeder because her teeth were clenched shut and the tube is hard plastic, it worked good. I gave her this recipe. The next day she was no different so I gave her half milk, half water with a few spoons of yogurt. The next day I did the same but added some honey because now you could force a bottle in her mouth. Mom never accepted her back so she is our little blessing to raise.

I understand you can purchase a kind of colostrum milk from the vet, they want you to get your orphans on their program of feeding, but back in 1989 this recipe was all I had and I'm keeping it handy because it's almost Spring! I hope all goes well with your animals this spring, it's such a joy to experience new birth of any kind!

-- Scott in IL (Farmerwebb@excite.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

Scott, I've had the same recipe since a vet gave it to me to use on bunnies when I was a kid and I've used it with great success on lambs, kids, and calves.

The addition of the cod liver oil is to add vitamins found in colostrum, notably A. If you don't have it, you can add neonatal vitamins which smell much better than the cod liver oil. I have read that mineral oil can remove or interfere with absorption of nutrients through the gut so it would be counterproductive as a substitute. If you don't have cod liver oil or baby vitamins, add an extra egg yolk for easily absorbed fats and Vitamin A.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), March 06, 2002.


I have used colostrum mixes in the past but even if they do survive to young adulthood usually not for long. I have goats and sheep and the only success I have is to have goat colostrum on hand in 60cc amounts and give this.I also add lactobacillus to their first milk feeding.It sounds like a good recipe but it lacks those antibodies but I know when you do not have colostrum in the freezer you have to do something! Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), March 06, 2002.

Though these remedies and colostrum replacers give nutrition and have a good laxative effect to clean the meconium (first tarry poop) from the intestines, they also give you no value that real colostrum does. Colostrum has all the immune fighting antibodies the doe/cow/etc has which makes for healthy livestock. IF you have to use something like this in a pinch, make sure you understand the 'hot house flower' you are raising, taking extra percautions to vaccinate and keep in spotless conditions until they build their own immunity. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

Nice formula, but without antibodies its just a liquid . Best bet is to get some real stuff {I give it away by the gallons}, and freeze it up. I have raised a good calf on a quart. I have use the packets of dried from New Zealand, but they are over 8 dollars a pack and a real pain to mix. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

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