• Mix the powder with water (43 to 49°C) and feed within 2 hours of birth. Calves should receive a second feeding of colostrum within 8 hours.Feeding additional amounts provides health benefits and is recommended when calves are stressed or disease incidence is high. Consult your veterinarian. • The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association recommends feeding “colostrum equaling 10% of body weight [about 4 quarts for most Holstein calves] in the first 2 hours of life with target serum IgG of >10 mg/mL and total protein of >5.2 g/dL.” • These levels can be achieved when completely replacing maternal colostrum at the recommended levels. • To achieve a replacement dose, newer industry standards suggest 150-200g IgG for optimal calf performance. • If supplementing, feed a minimum of 50g IgG in addition to sufficient maternal colostrum to target a similar overall mass of IgG. If maternal colostrum is very poor quality, supplement with higher levels of IgG in addition to maternal colostrum. • TO COMPLETELY REPLACE MATERNAL COLOSTRUM Choose the feeding level that achieves the desired levels of immunity for your calves. Feed 2-3 bags of HeadStart # of packages Amount IgG Fed Amount Water 2 bags 120 g 5 cups 3 Bags 180 g 7.5 cups TO SUPPLEMENT MATERNAL COLOSTRUM Feed in addition to available maternal colostrum. Feed 1-2 bags of HeadStart # of packages Amount IgG Fed Amount Water 1 bag 60 g 2.5 cups 2 Bags 120 g 5 cups
