For many years, colostrum delivery within the first 24 hours of life – and the sooner, the better – has been emphasized. That’s because we know that calves have a finite opportunity to absorb critical immunity-boosting antibodies – particularly immunoglobulin-G.

The recent publication of new national dairy calf nutrition standards has prompted us at Strauss Feeds to do some updating of our own.

Numerous research studies over the last decade or so have shown that replacement heifers fed more closely to their nutrient needs for higher proteins and fats in the liquid-feeding phase become more productive adult animals.