Colostrum: Four practical approaches to enhancement
Farmers are responsible for ensuring optimal colostrum supply, making a vital contribution to calf health and reducing losses during the postnatal phase.
Four farmers – four approaches: Discover how versatile BEWI-SAN Calf-Start is in practice – whether to enhance low-quality colostrum, in combination with the ColoQuick system, or even as a full colostrum replacement in cases of premature calving.
Targeted immune support during the first hours of life
Calves do not receive immunoglobulins in the womb – yet these are essential for a strong immune system. Immediately after birth, the calf is entirely dependent on colostrum to obtain vital antibodies. Inadequate colostrum intake within the first hours of life can have serious consequences: weakened immunity, poor weight gain, increased treatment costs and, in the worst cases, total losses.
With BEWI-SAN Calf-Start, you give your calves the best possible support – either as a supplement to natural colostrum or as a replacement in critical situations.
See for yourself how four dairy farmers from different regions use BEWI-SAN Calf-Start in their daily practice – individually tailored to the needs of their farms and calves.
What our customers say:
Quickly ready for use thanks to ColoQuick and BEWI-SAN Calf-Start
“As we are convinced of the positive effect of the product on the immune system, we always mix 150 grams of BEWI-SAN Calf-Start into a ColoQuick bag before freezing the colostrum. This way, we can act quickly after calving and provide the calf with the best possible care.”
Paul and Lisa Morbeck, dairy farm in the Borken district
A standard in colostrum enhancement – completely convincing
“Initially, we stirred BEWI-SAN Calf-Start into colostrum with a Brix value of 22 or lower. As the product offers great value for money, we now use it routinely to enhance colostrum for all calves.”
Henrike Möllers, Herd managerin at Tobias Schlüter’s dairy farm in the Recklinghausen district
Maximum flexibility in case of colostrum shortages
“With BEWI-SAN Calf-Start, I am flexible – whether there is too little or no colostrum available at all, or if the quality is insufficient. With this product, I can react quickly in any situation and specifically enhance the colostrum.”
Christian Hartmann, dairy farm in the Rhön region
Early calvings? No problem with BEWI-SAN Calf-Start
“Currently, we are experiencing an increase in early calvings, resulting in either insufficient quantities or colostrum of poor quality. With BEWI-SAN Calf-Start, I can respond flexibly: for enhancement or even as a complete replacement.”
Michael Goldbach, dairy farm in the Rhön region
Our recommendation: BEWI-SAN Calf-Start
- Ensures optimal calf nutrition right from the start
- With lactic acid bacteria’s to stabilise the gut flora
- With immunoglobulins from the first milking from cows (IBR free) and special antibody rich egg powde
- With beta-carotene and all essential vitamins to support the immune system during the first weeks of life
Here's something else that may interest you:
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Intestinal health in calves
Targeted feeding makes a decisive contribution to guaranteeing successful piglet calf rearing. What is missed at calf stage cannot be recovered later. Only healthy, optimally fed calves can later produce high milk yields for a long productive life of the dairy cows. Promoting gut health plays a big role in long-term success. It is important to promote the development of the young calf’s gut as early as possible – so let’s “gut it!”.
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How to raise a healthy calf
An intensive milk feeding program starting immediately after birth with an enhanced colostrum intake followed by intensive milk replacer feeding supports postnatal growth and development of dairy calves, prevents health problems and promotes the rearing of robust young animals. Dairy cow milk performance studies indicate that improved feeding management during early calf rearing positively influences lifetime performance.
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Intensive feeding ensures optimal intestinal development
The nutritional level of rearing calves has a significant impact on their development and growth during the milk feeding phase. After the colostrum phase, ad libitum feeding allows calves to fully realize their growth potential. Calves fed intensively (ad libitum) with milk replacer show significantly higher daily gains in the first weeks of life compared to those fed restrictively (6 liters per day).
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