Colostrum replacer for ongole crossbred calves

Insufficient cow colostrum causes a high calf mortality rate. This study aimed to obtain calves’ colostrum replacer (CR) formula. This study was done at the Indonesian Beef Cattle Research Station, Grati, Indonesia. Thirty Ongole crossbred calves (1-7 days old) were allotted into three groups with ten replicates, A: fed the cows’ colostrum, B: fed formula 1, and C: fed formula 2. The experimental design was a complete randomized design. The B and C calves separated from the cows and got the CR. The CR was prepared at 130 g, dissolved in warm water, and offered three times daily. On day 7 after CR was offered, the treatments were halted, and the calves were suckled to the cows. The colostrum intake was observed daily from day 1 to 7 by subtracting the colostrum offered and refused. The growth rate of the calves was measured on days 0, 4, 7, 28, 56, and 84. Blood samples were collected on days 2 and 4 for IgG, IgY, and glucose concentrations. The results showed that feeding CR did not affect the average daily gain of the calves until 84 days. Dry matter and crude fiber intakes were not different between the B and C groups instead of for crude protein intake. The glucose, IgG, and IgY concentrations were the same between treatments. The colostrum replacer can be given to calves that do not receive any cow’s colostrum or can be used as additional colostrum if the cows cannot produce enough colostrum.