Colostrum contains more than just immunoglobulins

The lactocrine hypothesis suggests that certain growth factors and hormones in mammary secretions that are present in colostrum and milk have an impact on young mammals. Data from several species suggest that neonates can be programmed after birth leading to a modification of developmental functions. In calves, increasing nutrient intake from milk prior to weaning has resulted in increased milk yield during first lactation^[2]. While this seems to be the result of increased nutrient intake resulting in an increase in pre-weaning growth rate, there may also be additional effects from signals produced by growth factors and hormones present in colostrum.

While the exact mechanisms by which colostrum has long-term effects on the development of the gastrointestinal tract are still not well understood, it are the non-nutrient factors in colostrum that may play a major role. Molecules such as IGF-1 and insulin have been shown to increase the rate of protein synthesis in piglets.^[3] Likewise, milk-borne relaxin concentrations have been shown to improve reproductive performance in piglets later in life as well.^[4] In calves, those fed maternal colostrum instead of serum-derived colostrum replacers (which provide immunoglobulins but do not contain the other bioactive factors that maternal colostrum contains) had a significantly higher feed efficiency,^[5] suggesting that factors other than colostrum derived antibodies contributed to these effects. In another calf study, those fed four litres of colostrum compared to those fed two litres, prior to ad libitum milk replacer intake pre-weaning, had average daily gains that were significantly higher both pre-and post-weaning.^[6] Thus, if colostrum contributes to feeding efficiency changes, it can be postulated that the first feeding can affect the future milk production of dairy cows.^[7]

In calves, glucose absorption capacity is enhanced and plasma glucose concentrations are also considerably higher when they are colostrum-fed as opposed to being formula-fed.^[8] If these differences in glucose metabolism were to persist, it could help researchers to understand the effects of colostrum beyond immunoglobulins on long-term productivity.

Knowing that certain hormones and growth factors in colostrum spur long-term productivity and enhance dairy calf feed efficiency, it is even more important that on-farm colostrum protocols are in place and up-to-date!