GEORGE F.W. HAENLEIN Extension Dairy Specialist University of Delaware NEWARK, Del. Colostrum, the milk secreted for a few days following birth, is important to calves, lambs, goat kids and other ruminant newborns, since it con tains antibodies against all kinds of deadly diseases. Ruminants do not transmit anti bodies during pregnancy because of the distinctive thick structure of the placenta. The usual practice is to let the newborn nurse colostrum during the first few hours following birth, after which it is moved to its own quarters. This not only ensures the safety of the newborn, it allows the mo ther to enter the milking string, with all its adjustments, as soon as possible. In addition, some newborns nurse more than is good for them. Overeating scours is often the re sult, a not uncommon cause of death. Lambs normally continue nurs ing, and kids may, depending on the owner’s management system. However, a disease known as Ca prine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) is transmitted primarily in goats’ milk to their kids, unless the milk or colostrum is pasteurized. Many dairy goat owners pas teurize the milk before nursing their kids, but colostrum curdles during the heating process. The successful practice is to heat it on ly to a low temperature of 130 de gree F, and hold it at that tempera ture for 1 hour. If colostrum is heated above 140 degree F, it will not only be gin to curdle, it will lose its im portant antibodies. The problems are obvious. Now, a newly developed pro duct may help. In the very inter esting magazine, “The Sheep Farmer,” a publication of the Brit ish National Sheep Association, I found an announcement for SPRAY-DRIED WHOLE NA TURAL COLOSTRUM FOR LAMBS. It’s called “Start ’em Right” and is sold by Sorcx Limit ed. Widnes-Cheshire WAS BTJ, England; phone 44-51-420-7151; FAX 44-51-495-1163. The announcement states that “Start ’em Right” is high in im munoglobulins for protection against diseases and contains add ed lactose for extra energy to com- “The M d as After Host my tool shed and its contents to a fire, / was when an adjustor from Old Guard showed up the jming, as promised. I would like to say ‘Thank You ’ to Old Guard for the prompt and personal service.” ters like Ben Snyder know how important it is to have prompt, responsive claim service of Old Guard Mutual {ranee Company. Whan you want farm insurance you rely on, look to Old Guard. We’ve been serving area rs since 1896. Farmers like Ben. Farmers like you. tay to find out more about our fast claim service and ' rates. 2929 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA • Phone: 1-800-732-0050 Ad based on actual letters received by Old Guard. Colostrum News From Abroad Next mg Guard There. Old Guard MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY bat hypothermia, a frequent cause of death in newborns. The product comes packaged in sealed single-dose sachets or foil bags for easy storage and conven ient mixing. For one lamb, the directions call for the sachet contents to be added to 3 ounces of water at body tem perature (25 g/100 ml water). Af ter thorough mixing, the reconsti tuted colostrum can be fed by bot tle or stomach tube. It can be stored in the refrigerator but must be warmed again to body tempera ture before next feeding. A meal should not exceed 1 ounce per pound lamb body weight. Per 24 hours the recom mended total colostrum feeding is supposed to be 1 pint per small lamb (6.5 pound), 1.5 pints for medium size lambs (8.5 pound) and 1.8 pints for large lambs (11 pounds). Prices were not listed for this ovine spray-dried colostrum, but the product seems to be widely available in feed and animal sup ply stores throughout Great Bri tain. Use of cow colostrum for lamb raising is discouraged because of alleged risk of anemia. The article also mentioned that up to 20 percent of newborn lambs do not survive the third day of life in Great Britain. Six lambs per 100 bom are lost as a result of hy pothermia and starvation, at a cost of $3.40 per head on die surviving lambs. I have not used or examined this dry colostrum product, nor have I read reports about it; possibly be cause it applies more to lambs and ‘ Distinction ’ Program Seeks Beautiful Dairy Farms Beautiful dairy farms are being sought for recognition as part of the Dairy of Distinction Program in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Started in 1983, the Northeast Farm Beautification Program rec ognizes the hard work and dedica tion of dairy owner/operators who maintain attractive farms. The purpose of the program is to 1) promote a positive dairy image; and 2) instill in consumers a grea ter sense of confidence in the wholesomeness of dairy products. Farms that apply for recogni » ftmUnfl. Srtunliy, Maiph 13 IM3-A2I kids than to calves. Cow fanners could easily have some colostrum stored frozen from a previous calving, and there is no reason they should have to pasteurize their colostrum. This column is neither an en dorsement nor an advertisement I am simply providing interesting news about something that sheep and goat farmers have needed for a long time. don are judged on the roadside appearance of buildings, grounds and surroundings. Animal cleanli ness, the barnyard, feed areas and manure management are other aspects of the farm operation taken into consideration. To qualify, applicants must be actively dairy farming. Applica tions, which are available from the program secretary in each of the three participating states, are due by April 15. For more information, contact the following; New York Car ol Weddle, NY Holstein Associa tion, (607) 273-7591; Pennsylva nia Paul Nichols, American Dairy Association and Dairy Council. (717) 283-2204; and New Jersey August Knispcl, (201) 735-4989. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers