Hygiene and colostrum management for dairy calves
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EmailBy implementing the Five Q’s and Serum Total Protein testing into your colostrum management program, you’ll be able to track and continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your program to ultimately provide calves with the best start possible.
Raising a healthy calf starts long before its first bottle. From the moment of birth, every decision—how soon colostrum is fed, how clean the tools are, how warm that first feeding is—shapes the calf’s future. Colostrum isn’t just the first nutrition a calf receives; it’s the first line of defense against illness and the launchpad for long-term productivity.
In this webinar, Jennifer Bentley breaks down colostrum management into five practical focus areas, each one a key to unlocking immunity and calf health. With the right system in place, passive transfer of immunity doesn’t have to be a gamble. By intentionally managing quality, quantity, timing, hygiene, temperature (known as The Five Q’s) and measuring your success, your team can build a repeatable protocol that protects calves and boosts confidence in your calf care team.
The Five Q’s (Plus Temperature!) of Colostrum Management
Quality
The quality of colostrum starts before birth. Vaccinations given to cows can positively affect the calf, along with proper nutrition and heat abatement. Harvesting colostrum should happen no later than two hours after birth. Once collected, test the colostrum for IgG levels with either a colostrometer or a refractometer (analog or digital) to ensure you're feeding high-value immunity.
Check out this YouTube video to learn how to test colostrum with a digital Brix refractometer.
Quantity
For optimal absorption of antibodies and nutrients, feed high-quality colostrum in smaller volumes until you’ve fed 10% of the calf’s body weight in the first 24 hours of life. This can be split into three or four feedings, if feasible. At minimum, two feedings should occur within the first 12 hours of life to maximize passive transfer success.
Quickness
Timing is everything. Calves are born with an open window for IgG absorption that begins to close within hours. Aim to feed colostrum within the first two hours after birth for the best immunity-building results. Delays mean lower absorption rates and higher risk of illness.
Squeaky Clean
Cleanliness directly influences colostrum effectiveness and calf health. High bacterial counts in colostrum significantly reduce IgG absorption and introduce harmful pathogens. Follow strict hygiene practices to protect calf immunity:
- Heat Treatment: Warm colostrum to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes. This is not true pasteurization, but sufficient to reduce bacteria before cooling or freezing.
- Prompt Cooling: After heat treatment, rapidly cool colostrum using ice bottles, chilled coolers or by laying storage bags flat in the freezer. Avoid placing hot colostrum directly into freezers or refrigerators, as this raises internal temperatures, risking spoilage and vaccine integrity.
- Proper Storage: Clearly label stored colostrum with the quality rating (from IgG tests) and collection date. Do not store fresh, untreated colostrum longer than 24 hours in a refrigerator, and only store properly cooled and treated colostrum for up to 6 months in the freezer.
- Equipment Hygiene: Regularly inspect all feeding equipment, including gaskets, bottles, tube feeders, and buckets for any cracks, buildup, or contamination risks. Employ ATP meters or color-change swabs periodically to assess cleanliness and bacteria presence.
- Dedicated Calf Kitchen: Maintain a specifically designated, clean area (a "calf kitchen") for colostrum preparation, storage and feeding tool sanitation to prevent cross-contamination and ensure consistent hygiene standards.
Adhering strictly to these protocols ensures the best colostrum quality, optimal calf immunity and reduces the likelihood of early-life health setbacks.
Temperature
Colostrum must be fed at the right temperature, around 101–103 F, mirroring the calf’s body temperature. Too cold, and calves may refuse to drink or experience digestive upset. Too hot, and vital antibodies may be damaged. Use a thermometer to monitor feeding and thawing temps, and always warm colostrum gradually in a water bath. Never use a microwave to thaw colostrum.
How do you know if it is a job well done?
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Monitoring outcomes through serum total protein (STP) testing or BRIX refractometers helps you evaluate whether your colostrum protocols are working. Aim for over 40% of calves in the “excellent” passive transfer range, and fewer than 10% in the “poor” range. Tracking these values over time gives your team the data needed to troubleshoot weak spots whether it's timing, quantity, hygiene or temperature. It also builds confidence in your system and keeps everyone accountable to consistent, high-quality care.
Use this chart, Measure and track serum total protein scores in calves, developed by MSU Extension dairy educator Cora Okkema, to help you begin monitoring and then tracking your serum total protein scores.
Colostrum is more than feeding, it’s a foundation. When delivered with the right quality, quantity, timing, hygiene, temperature and follow-up measurement, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in calf care. By integrating these five Qs (and a temperature check or two), calf care teams can give every newborn a real shot at strong immunity, consistent growth, and a healthier future. Whether you're fine-tuning your current system or starting fresh, building an intentional colostrum and hygiene protocol ensures calves aren't just surviving their first days—they’re thriving in them.
