Build Antibody-rich Colostrum With Scour Bos
Steve Webb, DVM
Glasgow, Kentucky
With high-producing cows averaging 80 – 100 pounds of milk a day, colostrum quality can suffer as important antibodies are diluted over a larger volume of milk. Dr. Steve Webb, DVM, in Barren County, Kentucky, knows this antibody dilution can make calves more susceptible to scours.
“The antibody is there, it’s just diluted over a larger milk volume. Consequently, we see more partial failure of passive transfer of immunity,” says Webb. “The calf may be getting colostrum, but not enough to ensure adequate immunoglobulin transfer.”
Dr. Webb recommends vaccinating dry cows with Scour Bos® to improve antibody concentration in colostrum. “Colostrum from cows vaccinated with Scour Bos has measurably better immunoglobulin levels than colostrum from unvaccinated cows,” says Webb. “That’s the colostrum you want to be feeding the calf.”
Scour Bos also plays a key role in improving colostrum from imported replacement heifers with unknown histories. Dairy producers often import heifers from all over the country. In most cases, the geographical background, health background and pathogen exposure of these heifers is unknown.
“By vaccinating a replacement heifer with an unknown history with Scour Bos, I can improve the quality of her colostrum dramatically,” says Webb. “Using Scour Bos is an effective scours management strategy when dealing with replacement heifers because it helps ensure the heifer’s colostrum is the antibody-rich colostrum needed to raise healthy calves—regardless of where the heifer came from or what she was exposed to in the past.”
