SCCL

10/31/2026

🎃 Spooky colostrum myth: "You can tell good colostrum by the way it looks." 👻

BUSTED! Looks can be deceiving. Thick, yellow colostrum can still be low in antibodies. The only way to know is to test it, and a Brix refractometer gives you an answer in seconds.

10/29/2026

🐄 Calves born by caesarean section need special colostrum management.
 
According to SCCL Veterinary Technical Advisor Dr. Ryan Davies, calves born by C-section may absorb fewer antibodies, can be slower to stand and suckle, and may receive less colostrum from the dam following surgery.
 
In these situations, having a colostrum management plan in place is critical to help support successful passive transfer from the very first feeding.
 
▶️ Watch the reel to hear Dr. Davies’ recommendations.
 

10/28/2026

Take a guess! 👀 Comment what Brix % you think this colostrum is 👇

Golden, thick and creamy... it must be high quality, right?

Here's the catch: you can't judge colostrum by its looks. Colour and thickness don't tell you how many antibodies are inside, and some great-looking colostrum tests low. The only way to know for sure is to test it with a Brix refractometer. 📏

We’ll leave a comment on this post with the correct answer in a couple of days!

10/27/2026

We’re incredibly proud to see our long-standing collaboration with the University of Guelph and Dr. Michael Steele recognized through the 2026 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Synergy Awards for Innovation.

At SCCL, science is at the heart of what we do. For more than 30 years, we’ve worked to advance the understanding of whole bovine colostrum through rigorous research, on-farm exploration, and partnerships with leading researchers and institutions around the world.

Collaborations like this help turn scientific evidence into practical strategies that support healthier animals and better outcomes for producers.

A great recognition of what can happen when research and industry work together. Congratulations to everyone involved!

🏆
In recognition of his scientific investigation into early-life nutrition reshaping how producers approach calf health, Michael Steele, of the University of Guelph, is awarded an NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation.

A collaboration between Steele and the SCCL has transformed how livestock producers support the health of young animals. Through a long-standing partnership, Steele and SCCL have combined cutting-edge animal science with commercial innovation to develop evidence-based colostrum feeding strategies that improve animal welfare, strengthen disease resistance and reduce reliance on antibiotics.

What began as a scientific investigation into early-life nutrition has reshaped how producers approach calf health, turning colostrum management into a precision tool for disease prevention and animal care.

▶️ tinyurl.com/4mwttsjk

10/26/2026

Your colostrum tested low. Now what? 🔬

University of Guelph researchers fed newborn Holstein calves low-quality maternal colostrum (about 30 g/L IgG, or 15.8% Brix). Some of those calves ended up with failed transfer of passive immunity.

But when the same colostrum was enriched with colostrum replacer to bring it up to 60 g/L IgG, none of the calves had failed passive transfer.

Low-quality colostrum doesn't have to go down the drain. It can be upgraded. 💪 Read the full study at the link in our bio.

This research was conducted with the support of SCCL.

10/22/2026

Same farm. Same week. Very different colostrum. 🐄

When researchers tested 827 colostrum samples from 67 US dairies, IgG levels ranged from under 1 g/L to 200 g/L, and nearly 30% of samples fell below 50 g/L. Age mattered too: first-calf heifers averaged less than half the IgG of cows in their third lactation or later.

You can't tell by looking. A Brix refractometer takes seconds and tells you exactly what you're working with. 📏

10/21/2026

Not all colostrum is equal, even on the same farm.

Colostrum quality can change a lot from one cow to the next. A few of the things that affect it:
🐄 Age: first-calf heifers tend to produce lower-IgG colostrum than older cows
⏱️ Timing: the sooner colostrum is collected after calving, the better
☀️ Season and dry period: heat stress and dry-period management can play a role
🍼 Volume: a cow that produces lots of colostrum isn't a guarantee of high quality

That's why testing every batch matters. Tomorrow we'll share what the research shows 👀

10/20/2026

Every calf will encounter challenges. The question is whether they’re prepared to fight back.
 
In this clip, Dr. Lucia Pisoni explains why the goal isn’t to eliminate every microorganism or stressor a calf may face. It’s to build the immune resilience needed to respond to those challenges. 
 
Part one of our new Beyond Colostrum episode with Chuck Stokke and Dr. Lucia Pisoni explores what colostrum keeps doing in the gut after day one, and why transition feeding is one of the most underused tools in preweaning calf health.
 
🎧 Link in bio. Part two dropping soon.
 
herdhealth dairynutrition beyondcolostrum sccl dairylife calves

10/20/2026

One product on the shelf instead of three. 🐄🐑🐐

Total Colostrum Care™ is a whole bovine colostrum powder made for calves, lambs and goat kids, so mixed farms don't need a different product for every species.

🔄 Replace: when maternal colostrum is missing, poor quality or unsafe
⬆️ Supplement: when there isn't enough, or it tests low
➕ Support: as post-day-one growth support for calves

Coming soon to 🇳🇱 🇵🇱 🇷🇴 🇸🇮 🇬🇷

Want to be the first to know when it's available? Sign up for more information at the link in our bio.

10/19/2026

Did your cows spend their dry period in the summer heat? ☀️➡️🍂

Research from the University of Florida found that calves whose mothers were heat-stressed in late pregnancy were born lighter, weighed less at weaning, and absorbed less IgG from colostrum. The surprising part: the colostrum itself wasn't the problem. The calves were simply less able to absorb it.

That's why this fall's calves may need a little extra help from day one. Test your colostrum, enrich when needed, feed enough of it, and feed it fast.