Research project An integrated approach to improve colostrum management on cattle farms.
General introduction
How can we improve colostrum management on dairy farms so that newborn calves receive timely and sufficient doses of colostrum and thus develop a strong immune system of their own? That is the challenge of BIESTBOOST 2.0. For the health and well-being of calf and cow, a properly applied management plan around colostrum is essential. However, farmers, veterinarians and advisors appear to have too little insight into these plans on individual farms. This makes adjustments difficult. There is also no monitoring. New insights about colostrum management have also been published in recent years, but to what extent these have already reached cattle farmers and the calves themselves, is not known.
Research approach
The BiestBoost project aims to improve colostrum management on Flemish cattle farms by undertaking the following steps: (1) identifying farm-specific issues in colostrum management, (2) implementing and evaluating improvement processes on practical farms, (3) researching and implementing innovative strategies to enhance colostrum management and calf health, and (4) facilitating data exchange to demonstrate effective colostrum management to the calf sector.
Relevance/Valorization
A calf is born without antibodies. During the first weeks of life, its own immune system does not work sufficiently well to fight off intestinal or pulmonary infections. Drinking enough colostrum is the best way to build up the newborn calves' immune system. Colostrum also contains many more minerals, energy and vitamins than ordinary cow's milk. This research project enables cattle farmers to optimize colostrum management on their farms, improve calf health and reduce antibiotic use. Farms that have good colostrum management for their heifer and bull calves can demonstrate this and show advantages in terms of health and animal welfare. Good colostrum management has a positive impact on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the industry.
Financing
VLAIO - Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen
