A simple method for evaluation of colostrum status in calves

A simple immunoassay system has been evaluated for use on farm to examine the level of maternal immunoglobin absorbed by newborn calves. Whole blood can be used in the test rather than serum. The test proved easy and reliable when used in studies on 10 farms with 650 calves. More than 50 per cent of the animals were found to be colostrum deficient and, as with other studies, such calves were subject to health breakdown and poor performance although this could be adequately offset by good management.